Fourth Annual Bank of America Chicago 13.1 Sees Record-Breaking Performances

June 1, 2025

Zouhair Talbi, Meseret Belete, and Daniel Romanchuk set new benchmarks in the professional and wheelchair divisions

June 1, 2025. CHICAGO /ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ – More than 9,500 participants gathered under ideal race conditions for the fourth annual Bank of America Chicago 13.1. Following a Saturday filled with community-based wellness activities, Sunday’s half marathon took runners on a tour through Chicago’s historic West Side parks and boulevards, looping through Garfield, Douglass, and Humboldt Parks. The event celebrated movement, community, and the spirit of running in Chicago.

Zouhair Talbi and Meseret Belete broke the tape first in the professional running divisions, setting a pair of event records en-route to their victories. Daniel Romanchuk captured his fourth straight title in the wheelchair competition, while Susannah Scaroni secured her third win in the women’s division. Ricky Gupta claimed the top spot in the non-binary running competition.

“We’re proud to celebrate four years of racing through Chicago’s West Side,” said Carey Pinkowski, Executive Race Director of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon, Shamrock Shuffle and Chicago 13.1. “The energy of the neighborhoods, the commitment of our partners, and the support of our local running communities make this event truly special. We’re excited to see the Bank of America Chicago 13.1 continue to grow in both scale and impact.”

In the men’s race, a tight pack of nine formed in the early miles before dwindling to four by 15K. Talbi, a Moroccan-born U.S. citizen, hit the accelerator, leaving the field behind, and claiming victory in an event record, 1:01:08. Talbi improved on his third place finish from a year ago. Emad Bashir-Mohammed and Patrick Kiprop also sailed under the previous event record, finishing second and third, respectively, in 1:01:18 and 1:01:19.

In the women’s race, Belete of Ethiopia, Mercy Lagat, Maggie Montoya, and defending champion Joyline Chemutai hung tight through 8K, but the race quickly shifted to a duel between Belete and Lagat by 10K. Belete kicked hard down the homestretch to take the win and set an event record, 1:09:36. Lagat finished a few strides behind in 1:09:38, while Montoya claimed the final podium spot in 1:09:53.

The wheelchair division delivered another thrilling finish, with Romanchuk setting an event record of 43:43, narrowly edging out Aaron Pike by one second (43:44). Scaroni, the 2025 Boston Marathon champion, raced against the clock to collect her third Chicago 13.1 victory in 48:50. Hannah Dederick and Hannah Babalola crossed the finish line together in 55:08, with Dederick in second and Bablola in third.

Ricky Gupta topped the podium in 1:28:22 in the non-binary division, followed by Robert George and Johnny Pliego to round out the top three.

More than 80 percent of today’s field hailed from Chicago and its surrounding suburbs.

As the second event in the Bank of America Chicago Distance Series, the Chicago 13.1 continues to build momentum following the Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle in March and leading into the Bank of America Chicago Marathon in October. The series invites runners to experience the distinctiveness of Chicago’s neighborhoods across three events throughout the year. Training for the 47^th annual Bank of America Chicago Marathon kicks off next weekend.

Full results for the 2025 event are available at chicago13point1.com.

Wellness Festival and Community Engagement

The 2025 Bank of America Chicago 13.1 embraced its mission to reimagine what running events look like by offering a robust lineup of wellness-focused and community-based activities. Today’s Race Day Festival, held in Garfield Park, welcomed runners and spectators with a mix of health and wellness activities, local entertainment, and community programming.

Saturday’s activities included a 1.31-mile Wellness Walk and youth events, developed in collaboration with West Side residents to promote movement and health and wellness. The untimed walk was open to participants aged six and older and included a suggested donation to the Garfield Park Advisory Council. Additional festivities included local West Side businesses and a Community Village that brought together organizations and neighbors for a morning of celebration and wellness.

Charity Program

The Bank of America Chicago 13.1 Charity Program featured 18 nonprofit partners dedicated to empowering youth, advancing health access, and fostering community development in Chicago’s West Side and beyond. In 2024, Nearly 400 participants raised more than $192,000 for local causes. Fundraising efforts in 2025 continue to reflect the heart and mission of the event.

About the Bank of America Chicago 13.1
The Bank of America Chicago 13.1 offers runners a unique experience, bringing a world-class half marathon to the neighborhoods of Chicago’s West Side. The fifth annual event will take place on Sunday, June 7, 2026. The event brings a new kind of racing experience to the Chicago running community featuring a mix of fitness and lifestyle activations designed to inspire runners to connect with the communities where we live, work and run. For more information about the event and how to get involved, go to chicago13point1.com.

For more Bank of America news, including dividend announcements and other important information, visit the Bank of America newsroom and register for news email alerts.

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Reporters May Contact:

Alex Sawyer, Bank of America Chicago Marathon, 1.312.992.6618
alex.sawyer@cemevent.com

Diane Wagner, Bank of America, 1.312.992.2370

diane.wagner@bofa.com