Recap: 2015 Chicago Marathon Takes Over City Streets

This year’s event was particularly important as many elite runners ran with the hopes of qualifying for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio

The running world descended on Chicago once again Sunday as roughly 45,000 runners took to the streets for the 2015 Bank of America Chicago Marathon.

Runners wound through 29 Chicago neighborhoods on a scenic tour of the city, which continues to be in the forefront of the running scene.

This year’s event was particularly important as many elite runners ran with the hopes of qualifying for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.

Dickson Chumba of Kenya won the men's race and Florence Kiplagat, also of Kenya, took first place in the women’s race with an emotional finish.

American Deena Kastor, who won the Chicago Marathon 10 years ago, earned an American women's master's record with an unofficial time of 2:27:47.

Male runners finishing within 2 hours and 18 minutes and female runners crossing the finish line within 2 hours and 43 minutes could enter the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials.

The race was also the host of the 2016 U.S. Paralympic Team Trials.

This year’s wheelchair winners included defending champion Tatyana McFadden, who won her fifth consecutive Chicago Marathon and punched her ticket to Rio. Australia's Kurt Fearnley won the men's wheelchair race.

“From Chicago to Rio, which is amazing, we’re honored to be selected by the Paralympics this race to send our top two American men and women to Rio,” said marathon director Carey Pinkowski.

The city is one of six World Marathon Majors.

“People come from all around the country, all around the world to discover Chicago and discover themselves,” Pinkowski said. “It’s a celebration of humanity, the charities, all the pieces that go into them, it’s amazing.”

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