To win your first World Marathon Major is a difficult task; to do it while skipping two major minute barriers en route to a 2:14:56 is something else. 

The Ethiopian Hawi Feysa beat an impressive field including Valencia Marathon winner Megertu Alemu to take the title. She went out hard with Tanzania's Magdalena Shauri, but even as Shauri faded and Alemu caught up she broke away from the field around 30K and only extended her lead from there to take the Chicago title.

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The lead women were being paced for a 67 flat half marathon, about 2:14 full marathon pace. By 5K, the women's lead pack had taken form as Ethiopians Hawi Feysa, Bedatu Badane, Megertu Alemu, and Ejgayehu Taye as well as Tanzanian Magdalena Shauri comprised the group with a seven-second lead. Their predicted finish was 2:15, and top American Makenna Kyler was in 10th side-by-side Dakotah Popehn (both at a quick 2:18:24 pace). Since hitting the split, the debutant Taye had fallen back into a chase pack.

At 10K, the the race ad whittled down to a duel between Feysa and Shauri. Feysa had a 2:17:00 PB from finishing 3rd in Tokyo this year and has a cross country background as part of the winning Ethiopian team at 2017 World XC. Shauri was 39th at the Olympics and 4th at the Paris Marathon this year.

The women were on 2:15:00 pace at 15K, with Feysa and Shauri still clear of the field. Popehn had moved up a spot to 9th place on a 2:20 tempo.

For a moment, there was fear that Shari and Feysa might paying for their early break by the half as Ethiopians Megertu Alemu and Ejgayehu Taye were just seven seconds behind. Their 1:07:30 was spot-on for a 2:15:00 full marathon pace.

Shauri and Feysa were holding steady at 2:15 pace, splitting mile 18 at 5:08. Taye had fallen back, but Alemu was still hot on their tail five seconds behind.

As we approached 30K in the women's race Hawi Feysa had pulled away for a decisive lead. Shauri, Alemu, and Taye have been left behind. Natosha Rogers at this point was the top American in 8th on 2:21:35 pace.

Feysa and Alemu were the only two women who could win this race 35K in -- Feysa's 11-second gap wasn't yet insurmountable. Natosha Rogers had built a lead over Popehn for top American honors on a 2:22 tempo.

In the end, Feysa skipped the 2:16s and the 2:15s, going from 2:17:00 to 2:14:56 to win the 2025 Chicago Marathon women's race. Her last mile was the fastest of the race, giving her a sizeable lead over pre-race favorite Megertu Alemu.

Feysa said in Amharic after the race that she wanted to thank God and the organizers for inviting her to the race. She also thanked her coach for giving her morale to know that she could win the race.

Natosha Rogers upset Paris Olympian Dakota Popehn to take top American honors, finishing in 2:23:28. Rogers said after the race that the marathon experience came in waves, with good waves and bad waves often coming back to back. She congratulated Conner Mantz on his American record in the men's race.

2025 Chicago Marathon Top 15 Women Results:

1. Hawi Feysa Gejia (ETH) 02:14:56
2. Megertu Alemu (ETH) 02:17:18
3. Magdalena Shauri (TAN) 02:18:03
4. Loice Chemnung (KEN) 02:18:23
5. Mary Ngugi-Cooper (KEN) 02:19:25
6. Natosha Rogers (USA) 02:23:28
7. Dakotah Popehn (USA) 02:24:21
8. Florencia Borelli (ARG) 02:24:23
9. Gabriella Rooker (USA) 02:26:32
10. Melody Julien (FRA) 02:27:09
11. Bedatu Hirpa Badane (ETH) 02:27:50
12. Marta Galimany (ESP) 02:28:23
13. Aubrey Frentheway (USA) 02:28:56
14. Makenna Myler (USA) 02:29:26
15. Maggie Montoya (USA) 02:29:50

Information About Entries At The Chicago Marathon 

• More than 50,000 runners are expected to take part in the 2025 Chicago Marathon. Over 160,000 applications were received for the race.

Chicago Marathon 2025 Schedule

• Elite men's wheelchair race: 8:20 a.m. ET
• Elite women's wheelchair race: 8:21 a.m. ET
• Elite races (men's and women's): 8:30 a.m. ET
• Last mass race wave: 9:35 a.m. ET

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