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Galen Rupp wins Chicago Marathon, ends U.S. drought

Athletics Marathon - Olympics: Day 16

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - AUGUST 21: Galen Rupp of the United States celebrates as he wins bronze during the Men’s Marathon on Day 16 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Sambodromo on August 21, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)

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Galen Rupp won the Chicago Marathon on Sunday, ending a 12-year U.S. men’s victory drought. Rupp clocked a personal best 2:09.20 and was greeted at the finish by his wife and kids. Deena Kastor won in 2005, but the last men’s winner was Khalid Khannouchi in 2002.

“To have a race like this where it all comes together, and to win in a city that means so much to me... it’s just a great day,” Rupp said, according to USA Track and Field. Rupp has a personal connection to Chicago: his father grew up in the city.

The Chicago Marathon was Rupp’s fourth marathon attempt, though his career trajectory so far has started off with a bang. He won Olympic Trials in 2016 and then picked up a bronze medal at the Rio Olympics. He also spent time in between training for track events. His third attempt was in April in Boston.

Kenya’s Abel Kirui and Bernard Kipyego finished second and third, respectively. Kirui, the 2012 Olympic silver medalist, came to Chicago as the defending champion.

Ethiopia’s Tirunesh Dibaba took the women’s marathon title in a time of 2:18.30, followed by Kenya’s Brigid Kosgei 1.53 seconds later. Rupp’s training partner, Jordan Hasay, was third in 2:20.57. Chicago was Hasay’s second-ever marathon attempt.

Back at the Boston Marathon, Rupp and Hasay were second and third, which marked the best U.S. combined male and female finishes at the world’s oldest annual 26.2-mile race since 1985.

But now, with Rupp’s victory and Hasay matching her third-place finish, a new benchmark has been set. This year’s edition of the Chicago Marathon is also notable because it’s the first time the U.S. has put male and female runners inside the top three since 1996.