Tsegaye Kebede of Ethiopia wins the 2012 Bank of America Chicago Marathon on October 7, 2012 in Chicago, Illinois. (Credit: David Banks/Getty Images)
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CHICAGO (CBS)– 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 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.
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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.
CBS 2′s Courtney Gousman caught up with family members of runners who hoped to keep the energy high for loved ones throughout the 26.2 mile course.
Derek Long, whose wife and son were running the marathon said, “To be at mile 17 and doing what these guys are doing, just to give them a little bit of a cheer, that’s what it’s all about”.
“I do my own mini marathon running between all the different points in between to catch up with them,” said Long.
Ruth Gonzalez kept her husband’s spirits up with her creative signs, one reading “Brian Wittenberg is Kenyan from the waist down.”
“His legs are fast!” Gonzalez explained.
Friends and family could also sign-up to receive text message alerts to keep track of their loved one’s pace.
After crossing the finish line, marathon runners were invited to a celebration in Grant Park, where runners were offered beer to help boost their carbs.
(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2012. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
