Chicago Marathon 2012 Results: Highlighting Race's Most Impressive Finishers

With a new course record in the men’s race and a women’s race that came down to the final few steps, in addition to 45,000 runners pushing themselves to extremes, the 2012 Chicago Marathon was a fantastic event.

Any person who is able to travel the full distance has completed a tremendously impressive athletic achievement. Even the people who only made it part of the way should still be admired. Full results from the race can be found via ChicagoMarathon.com. 

But as is the case with any race, there is an element of competition. While many runners are simply trying to finish the race, a group of elite runners are after accolades and course records.

Here are the racers who had the most impressive days.

Tsegaye Kebede

Kebede made history in multiple ways with his race, and was certainly the most impressive runner today. 

Chicago has produced awful running conditions in past years for this marathon, but today featured a cool climate ideal for this grueling event. Kebede took advantage of the favorable conditions by shattering the previous course record, as noted by The Chicago Tribune.

His official time was 2:04:38, and the 25-year-old Ethiopian became the first man from his country to win the race (also noted by The Chicago Tribune). It was an excellent day for Ethiopian men, who accounted for the three best times of the race. 

But Kebede stole the show with his fantastic performance that will be the highlight of the entire race.

Atsede Baysa and Rita Jeptoo

While Kedebe was racing against the clock in the men’s race, these two women were pushing each other all the way through to the finish.

Baysa, a 25-year-old Ethiopian, won the race with a time of 2:22:03. Jeptoo, a 31-year-old Kenyan, came in second by the closest of margins, and her official mark was 2:22:04. 

Each woman held the lead at one point late in the race, but Baysa was able to make the decisive push. For both women to still be able to pick up their pace that late in the race is truly incredible.

While Baysa is the official winner of the women’s race, both runners put on extremely impressive performances.

Feyisa Lilesa and Tilahun Regassa 

While all the accolades will go to Lilesa and Regassa’s compatriot who won the men’s race, these 22-year-old Ethiopians also broke the previous course record.

Kenya’s Moses Mosop ran the race in 2:05:37 last year to set a new all-time best, according to the Associated Press (via ESPN), but Lilesa finished in 2:04:52, and Regassa recorded a time of 2:05:27. 

Both young men ran a race worthy of a victory, but Kebede was simply flying today. Kebede received $150,000 in prize money for winning the race and setting a new course record, as noted in the same AP report, but on another day, that pay day could have gone to either of these men. 

At such a young age, both runners will have more chances to run impressive races.