Rupp, Dibaba win first major marathons at Chicago

Galen Rupp became the first American man in 15 years to win the Chicago Marathon on Sunday while Ethiopia’ s Tirunesh Dibaba, a three -time Olympic champion, captured the women’ s crown.
It was only the fourth career start at the 26 . 2 -mile (42 . 16km ) distance for Rupp , who was second in April ’ s Boston Marathon and third in last year’ s Rio Olympics , and just the third marathon for Dibaba , a former world and Olympic 5 , 000 and 10 , 000 m champion.
“It ’ s just incredible, ” Rupp said. “You train so hard to have a race like this and to have it all come together , words just can ’ t describe the feeling when I came across the line. It’ s just a great day . ”
Rupp surged ahead for good with three miles remaining to win in 2 hrs 9 mins 20 secs with Kenyan runner-up Abel Kirui, the defending champion, 28 seconds back and Bernard Kipyego , also of Kenya, third in 2 :10 :23 .
Only one rival remained with Dibaba past the halfway mark as this year’ s London Marathon runner-up cruised to victory in 2 :18:31 , defeating Kenya’ s Brigid Kosgei by 1 :51 with American Jordan Hasay third in 2 :20 :57 .
“This is my third marathon and I’ m very happy to have won here, ” Dibaba said. “ I worked very hard for this . ”
Dibaba and Rupp each took a $ 100, 000 top prize at the 40th anniversary edition of the classic, which saw more than 40 , 000 runners compete on the streets of the US Midwestern metropolis.
Rupp, 31 , was the first American man to win the Chicago Marathon since Morocco-born Khalid Khannouchi in 2002. Kenyans had won the Chicago men ’ s title in 13 of the past 14 years .
Kenya’ s Dennis Kimetto , world record holder from his 2014 Berlin Marathon triumph in 2 :02 :57 and the 2013 Chicago champion, led at the halfway mark in 1 :05 :49 but began limping soon after and by 25km was off the pace for good .
The lead pack slowly dwindled over the next 10km , leaving only Rupp , Kirui and Ethiopia’ s Sisay Lemma after 22 miles .
Rupp, who took 2012 Olympic silver at 10 , 000m , made his charge with three miles remaining and no one had a response.
“I really wanted to wait , ” Rupp said. “I felt a little gap pulling away and then I said I’ ve just got to put down the hammer and pull away.