The best women's distance runners in the US will be lining up on a familiar stage next year. USATF announced Wednesday that the 2027 USA Track & Field Marathon Championships will run through the Chicago Marathon on October 10th.
The race already holds a special place in US women's marathon history after Emily Sisson set the national record of 2:18:29 on the same course in 2022.
Chicago Marathon Doubles as 2027 USATF Championships
Come next year, 20 women and 20 men will chase the national title in the Windy City.
They'll do so by running Chicago's 26.2-mile route, passing through 29 neighborhoods in front of more than a million spectators. The USATF will distribute nearly $110,000 in prize money to the Top 10 finishers on each side.
The championship comes at a pivotal moment for US women's marathoning.
At the 2026 Boston Marathon, Jess McClain broke the US course record with a 2:20:49 fifth-place finish. Meanwhile, Americans Annie Frisbie, Sisson, and Carrie Ellwood rounded out the Top 10 in that same race.
More Olympic Qualifying Opportunities for Marathon Runners
With the 2028 LA Olympics fast approaching, the 2027 Chicago Marathon will also open 300 spots in its High Performance Program so more athletes can target the Olympic Team Trials qualifying standard.
"This is our opportunity to ensure Team USA's top runners can compete in a world class field," Chicago Marathon Executive Race Director Carey Pinkowski said.
NBC will broadcast the race locally in Chicago, with Peacock streaming nationwide. Qualification criteria for the USA Track & Field Marathon Championships have not yet been released.
