Chicago Marathon delivers wheelchair world record and new American milestones

Chicago’s streets hosted a new world record and several national milestones during the Bank of America Chicago Marathon on Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026. The performances spanned wheelchair and open competition, giving local spectators several achievements to celebrate across the 26.2-mile event.

Switzerland’s Catherine Debrunner completed the women’s wheelchair race in 1 hour, 33 minutes and 16 seconds. Her performance established a world record, making Chicago the setting for a new benchmark in the event rather than only a best time for the local course.

In the men’s wheelchair race, Marcel Hug finished in 1:21:34 to set a Chicago Marathon course record. Together, the two wheelchair results were among the standout performances of a morning that produced records in multiple divisions.

Emma Grace Hurley finished her first marathon in 2:20:47, placing seventh overall in the women’s competition. Marathon officials said her result was the fastest marathon debut by an American woman. It also extended her successful year of racing in Chicago: earlier in the year, she set an American women’s 8K record at the Shamrock Shuffle.

Galen Rupp, the 2017 Chicago Marathon champion, returned with another milestone. His time of 2:06:55 placed him 11th in the men’s open division and established an American masters record, according to marathon officials. For fans familiar with his earlier Chicago victory, Sunday brought a different record to recognize.

Australia’s Isobel Batt-Doyle also delivered a national record, completing the women’s marathon in 2:20:38. With a world mark, a Chicago course record and national achievements recorded at the same event, Sunday’s results gave local running fans accomplishments to follow well beyond the overall finishing order.