Kenyan Evans Rutto dominates marathon in Chicago with win

Evans Rutto of Kenya crosses the finish line with a time of 2:06:16 to win the Chicago Marathon in Chicago, Illinois, Sunday. Rutto claimed his third victory on the trot when he successfully defended his Chicago marathon crown. PHOTO: AFP

Evans Rutto of Kenya won his second straight Chicago Marathon on Sunday, finishing in 2 hours, 6 minutes, 16 seconds, and claimed his third victory in as many tries at the 42.2km distance.

Daniel Njenga of Kenya was second in 2:07:44 and Toshinari Takaoka of Japan was third in 2:07:50. Former world-record holder Khalid Khannouchi, running his first marathon in two years, was fifth in 2:08:44.

Constantina Tomescu-Dita of Romania won the women's race despite spending the last few days in bed with the flu. She easily beat the rest of the field in 2:23:45, finishing almost a minute ahead of countrywoman Nuta Olaru. Olaru ran 2:24:33 while Svetlana Zakharova of Russia was third in 2:25:01.

Rutto a world debut record last year in Chicago, winning in 2:05:50. He ran the London Marathon in April, finishing first in 2:06:18 despite crashing into a barrier on a cold, windy and rainy day.

As Rutto approached the finish, he raised his arms and pumped his fists, a broad smile crossing his face. His finish was the world's second-fastest in the marathon this year, two seconds behind Felix Limo at the Rotterdam Marathon.