CHICAGO (Sun-Times Media Wire) -
Tsegaye Kebede of Ethiopia has won the 2012 Bank of America Chicago Marathon, setting a new course record, according to race officials.
Kebede, 25, crossed the finish line Sunday morning just before 9:40 a.m., with a time of 2:04:38, a new course record, according to the marathon's website. He was followed by 22-year-old Feyisa Lilesa, also of Ethiopia, with a time of 2:04:52.
The first place winner gets a prize of $100,000, and Kebede will get a bonus of $50,000 for setting a course record. The previous course record was 2:05:37, set in 2011, by Moses Mosop of Kenya.
In a photo finish, Atsede Bayasa of Ethiopia was the first female finisher, at 2:22:03. Right behind her was Rita Jeptoo of Kenya, and not far behind them was Lucy Kabuu of Kenya, who crossed the finish line at 2:22:41.
The women's record of 2:17:18 was set in 2002 by Paula Radcliffe of Great Britain.
The first Chicago-area runners across the finish line included Thomas Frazer, 31, of Lake Forest, who finished at 2:18:37, Nick Hird, 28, of Naperville, who finished at 2:23:51, Douglas Maisey, 25, of Chicago, who finished at 2:25:35, and 32-year-old Andy Derks of Aurora, who finished at 2:26:23.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
