Seventh heaven for Tatyana McFadden in Chicago

“Last month has gone amazing and I’m just so proud of myself. Crossing that finish line was pretty emotional and exciting; just to have family here was amazing too in my hometown of Chicago - I couldn’t ask for a better day.”

The USA’s Tatyana McFadden notched up a phenomenal seventh consecutive Chicago Marathon win as Swiss wheelchair racer Marcel Hug took first place in the men’s race on Sunday (8 October).

McFadden clocked a new course record of 1:39:15 as she finished ahead of compatriot Amanda McGrory (1:39:15) and Swiss racer Manuela Schar (1:39:17) to claim her eighth win overall in the Windy City.

The 28-year-old had suffered blood clots to her legs and surgery that severely hampered her race schedule and training in the first half of the year, before going on to claim four gold medals at the London 2017 World Championships.

“I feel amazing, it was really hard to come back since February with the clots,” McFadden told NBC News.

“I didn’t think I was going to be able to come back marathoning this year but I did it. It was really scary coming back but I just took it day by day, training by training.”

McFadden, who is a graduate of the University of Illinois, was delighted to secure yet another win in front of her home fans, although she was made to work hard to seal the win.

“It was coming down to a sprint race but the last climb kind of saved me as I love to climb and I just had to finish really strong,” admitted McFadden. “It was racing for home and racing for family and I just absolutely love this - it’s just amazing to be back.

“Last month has gone amazing and I’m just so proud of myself. Crossing that finish line was pretty emotional and exciting; just to have family here was amazing too in my hometown of Chicago - I couldn’t ask for a better day.”

Great Britain’s Sammi Kinghorn (1:43:52) impressed with a fifth-place finish on her marathon debut behind Australia’s Madison de Rozario (1:39.22), the Scot’s time well inside the qualifying mark she was chasing for next year’s Commonwealth Games.

Hug also defended his title from 12 months ago, finishing in 1:29:23, just over one minute ahead of five-time winner Kurt Fearnley (1:30:24) who had to settle for second place once again.

The Australian finished behind Hug in the same race last year, as well as at the Rio Paralympic Games – but there was no repeat of last year’s tight finish this time around as Hug finished well clear of the rest of the field. Spain’s Jordi Madera Jimenez (1:30:25) was third.

Hug, who also won in Berlin, Germany last month, said:

“It was a really tough race, I tried to attack many time and always the Japanese guys and Kurt Fearnley filled the gap. I tried so many times, and then finally I got it.

“I love to be here, the Chicago Marathon is one of my favourite marathons. I feel very good, I’m in great shape so everything is perfect.”

The 31-year-old also extended his lead at the top of the Abbott World Marathon Majors Series XI leaderboard, claiming a maximum 25 points to take his current points total to 66.

The Abbott WMM Series XI kicked off in London this year and takes in six major marathons around the world, finishing back in the British capital next April.

Schär still sits top of the women’s standings after wins in London and Berlin this year, with McGrory second on 32 points and McFadden third on 25 points.

Men’s Series XI standings

1. Marcel Hug (SUI) – 66 points

2. David Weir (GBR) - 25 points

3. Kurt Fearnley (AUS) – 25 points

4. Kota Hokinoue (JPN) – 16 points

5. Ryota Yoshida (JPN) – 9 points

6. Jordi Madera Jimenez (ESP) – 9 points

7. Ernst van Dyk (RSA) – 4 points

8. Heinz Frei (SUI) – 4 points

9. Sho Watanabe (JPN) – 4 points

10. Rafael Botello Jimenez (ESP) – 2 points

Women’s Series XI standings

1. Manuela Schar (SUI) – 59 points

2. Amanda McGrory (USA) – 32 points

3. Tatyana McFadden (USA) – 25 points

4. Sandra Graf (SUI) – 16 points

5. Susannah Scaroni (USA) – 9 points

6. Annika Zeyen (GER) – 9 points

7. Margriet van den Broek (NED) – 4 points

8. Patricia Keller (SUI) – 4 points

9. Madison de Rozario (AUS) – 4 points

10. Jade Jones (GB) – 1 point