Sammy Kitwara enters the 2015 Chicago Marathon as the favorite after finishing fourth in 2012, third in 2013 and runner-up in 2014.

The 2015 Chicago Marathon is Sunday, and it’s safe to say this year's race will look very different from last year. 

For starters, the historically fast fall marathon, a member of the Abbott World Marathon Majors races, has eliminated pace-setters. In an effort to increase the competitive nature, race director Carey Pinkowski told the Chicago Tribune on August 26 that rabbits will no longer be used stating, “Without the rabbits, the leaders need a much greater level of concentration. That will allow us to see more tactics, strategy and competition throughout the race.”

So Chicago has joined the ranks of Boston and New York in eliminating rabbits, but the time bonuses still stand. So how fast will 2015 Chicago be?

Related: Full Elite Entry List 2015 Chicago Marathon

Enter last year’s runner-up and third-place finishers Sammy Kitwara and Dickson Chumba. After marathon king Eliud Kipchoge dropped the hammer near the end of 26.2, Kitwara and Chumba fought to the finish, both recording new personal bests. Kitwara (2:04:28) and Chumba (2:04:32) may as well be the Windy City favorites in 2015, but will 2:04 be feasible? Last year, with pacers, the lead group went through the half in 62:09. In a depleted field, it’ll be all guts on Sunday morning in a race against the competition and not the clock.

In addition to Kitwara and Chumba, fellow Kenyan Wesley Korir brings his 2:06:13 best to the starting line, as well as Tilahun Regassa (2:05:27) and Abera Kum (2:05:56). 2015 Tokyo Marathon winner Endeshaw Negesse withdrew from the competition today.

Outside of Kenya and Ethiopia, a large group of American men are looking for personal bests on the magical Windy City course. First and fastest is Fernando Cabada, whose 2:11:36 from 2014 Berlin makes him the top American in the field. Cabada is coming off a rough Boston Marathon last spring but truly believes this Chicago race may be the one to set him up as an Olympic contender in February.

Related: Fernando Cabada Aiming For Greatness In Chicago Marathon

In an effort to prove his comeback as a member of the American elite, Former Nike Oregon Project and University of Oregon standout Luke Puskedra brings his 2:15:27 PB from Grandma’s Marathon on June 20 to the starting line. Puskedra ran a 61:36 half marathon in Houston while he was still an Oregon Duck in 2012, but years of sub par results followed. Sure he ran another 61 minute half in 2014 and finished runner-up at the 2014 USATF XC Championships, but his marathon debut in New York City last fall was disappointing, 2:28:54, and not what the American running fans expected. After disappearing for a few months, Puskedra has returned with promising results. 2:15 is an immense improvement from 2:28 and he certainly has the credentials to walk away as the top American.


Luke Pukesdra breaks the tape at the 2015 Vancouver Sun Run 10K on April 19, 2015

After Cabada and Puskedra, Malcolm Richards (2:15:49) and Nick Hilton (2:16:20) bring sub 2:17 marks to the table. Former NCAA standouts will make their marathon debuts in Chicago: Iona’s Mitch Goose, Iowa State’s Mohamed Hrezi, Virginia’s Sean Keveren and Georgia’s Brandon Lord.

World Half Marathon Record-Holder Florence Kiplagat Going For Chicago Gold

Two of last year’s top finishers will likely contend for the top spot in the women’s field, as 2014 third-place finisher Florence Kiplagat, the world record-holder over half marathon, and fourth-place Birhane Dibaba headline the field. Kiplagat (2:19:44) and Dibaba (2:22:30) will be contested by Mulu Seboka (2:21:56), Yebrgual Melese (2:23:23) and Amane Gobena (2:23:30).

One noticeable difference in the women’s field is the absence of two-time defending Chicago Marathon champion Rita Jeptoo, who is serving a two-year ban for testing positive for performance-enhancing drug use. After her rousing 2:24 win in Chicago last fall, her name has since been wiped from the results. Where banners of Kipchoge hang throughout the Windy City, Jeptoo is no where to be found.

Interestingly, Deena Kastor’s 2:19:36 PB makes her the fastest entrant in the elite field. Kastor is fresh off tying the U.S. Master’s 5K record of 15:48 on September 26 and will target the U.S. Master’s marathon record of 2:28:40. If she hits that mark, the 42-year-old may make a case for herself as a true contender in the Olympic trials in February.

Marathon legend and 1984 Olympic Gold Medalist Joan Benoit Samuelson enters the field after setting the American course record of 2:21:21 30 years ago. It was announced on Thursday, however, that a stomach virus may keep her out of the race, or certainly dictate her results. The 58-year-old was shooting for a time 30 minutes within her 1985 winning mark. She last ran 2:54 in Boston last spring.


Blake Russell, mother of three children, won the U.S. Marathon Championships in LA in 2:34:57

2015 U.S. Marathon Champion Blake Russell will be in the mix. Her 2:29:10 PB comes from Chicago in 2005. After spending several years away from running, 40-year-old Russell returned to finish third overall, the first American, in LA in March. It wouldn’t be crazy to think Russell is in PB shape, and on the same course she set her best mark 10 years later no less.

After Russell, Tera Moody (2:30:53), Lindsey Scherf (2:32:19), Sarah Crouch (2:32:44) and Sara Hall (2:48:02) are all looking for solid performances before the February Olympic Trials. If any of these ladies break the 2:30 barrier, they’ll enter top ranks of American women marathoners vying for the Olympic team. Hall, however, will be using this race (her second marathon) as a decision maker as to whether or not she’ll race in the trials. 

Related: Sara Hall's Marathon Redemption

The first wave of the race is schedule to go off at 7:30am CT on Sunday. You can watch the livestream from home HERE.