The 2009 Chicago Marathon was run on October 11, 2009.
Out of 34,792 participants, 33,419 finished the race, which is a men’s course record.
The big story of the day, however, belonged to 22 year-old Wanjiru, who eclipsed Khalid Khannouchi’s 1999 course record of 2:05:42 by one second to finish in 2:05:41.
Wanjiru claimed the $75,000 prize purse and also an additional $100,000 for breaking the course record. Wanjiru’s time is the fastest time recorded on American soil. At the age of 22 years 335 days, he is the youngest runner with three World Marathon Major victories.
Several safeguards were put in place since the 2007 marathon in which several people were hospitalized from heat stroke and one person died.Bloomberg: Marathon Adds Water, Medics to Reduce Injuries (October 11, 2008)
2007 Marathon
Unseasonably warm temperatures combined with a lack of water and cups caused the cancellation of the 2007 Chicago marathon partway through the race. One person died and 250 others were hospitalized October 8, 2007 as temperatures reached 88 degrees.Bloomberg: Chicago Marathon Adds Water, Medics to Reduce Injuries of 2007 (October 11, 2008) Chad Schieber of Michigan was pronounced dead shortly after 1 pm at Veteran's Affairs hospital in Cook County.WCBS: Heat Cuts Chicago Marathon Short (October 7, 2007)
