The Bank of America Chicago Marathon announced today that two-time Olympic medalist Galen Rupp and American marathon debut record holder Jordan Hasay will lead a deep field of American contenders at the 40th annual Bank of America Chicago Marathon. Adding an exclamation point to the elite athlete field, 1984 Olympic gold medalist and 1985 Chicago Marathon champion Joan Benoit Samuelson will toe the line in an attempt to set an age group world record.

“Galen and Jordan are huge talents who have the ability to capture podium finishes. The last time we had an American male and female place in the top three together was 1996. And we have a deep field of Americans who can shake things up this year Luke Puskedra, Diego Estrada, Sam Chelanga, Sarah Crouch, Becky Wade and Alia Gray, to name a few,” said Executive Race Director Carey Pinkowski.

“And Joanie is a legend. To have Joan attempting a record in Chicago allows us the opportunity to celebrate her as an American icon and running legend.”

Rupp, a three-time Olympian, an eight-time USATF 10,000m champion and a member of the Nike Oregon Project, made his marathon debut in 2016 by winning the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials. He currently holds four American records in the 10,000m (26:44.36), indoor 3,000m (7:30.16), indoor two-mile (8:07.41) and indoor 5,000m (13:01.26). He is the 15th-fastest man in history over 10,000m, and his 5,000m personal record (PR) of 12:58.90 puts him in an exclusive category of American runners he is one of only six Americans to break 13:00 for the distance.

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At the 2012 London Olympics, Rupp became the first American since 1964 to land on the podium; he captured the silver medal after a final 400m lap in a blazing 53.8 seconds. At the 2016 Rio Olympics, Rupp earned a bronze medal in the marathon, proving that he can compete with the best on the global stage. He followed his Olympic performance with a strong run in Boston in April, finishing second in 2:09:58.

Hasay, a member of the Nike Oregon Project, turned heads at the 2017 Boston Marathon with a spectacular debut performance. She finished third in 2:23:00, the fastest marathon debut ever by an American woman by almost three minutes, and the fourth-fastest Boston Marathon time in history by an American woman. Before her impressive performance in Boston, she recorded the third-fastest time ever by an American woman in the half marathon, 1:07:55, at the Prague Half Marathon (only Molly Huddle and Deena Kastor have run faster).

And prior to turning her attention to the roads in 2016, Hasay focused on the track, initially making her name as a 1,500m runner (she competed in the 2008 Olympic Trials as a high school runner). She was a two-time Foot Locker Cross Country national champion in high school and a 15-time All American at the University of Oregon. The Bank of America Chicago Marathon marks her second go at the marathon distance.

American men’s field

Name Personal best Galen Rupp 2:09:58 (Boston, 2017) Luke Puskedra 2:10:24 (Chicago, 2015) Jeffrey Eggleston 2:10:52 (Gold Coast, AUS 2014) Aaron Braun 22:12:54 (Houston, 2015) Diego Estrada 2:13:56 (Chicago, 2016) Andrew Bumbalough 2:13:58 (Tokyo, 2017) Sam Chelanga — Chris Derrick Debut Noah Droddy Debut

American women’s field

Name Personal best Jordan Hasay 2:23:00 (Boston, 2017) Becky Wade 2:30:41 (Sacramento, 2013) Dot McMahan 2:31:48 (Duluth, 2011) Sarah Crouch 2:32:44 (Chicago, 2014) Alia Gray 2:34:00 (Chicago, 2016) Michelle Lilienthal 2:34:50 (St. Paul, 2013) Danna Herrick 2:34:53 (Boston, 2017) Kristen Heckert 2:39:37 (Chicago, 2016)

For more information on the rest of the American elite field, read the full press release.