The Olympic triathlon champion sets her second marathon date as she targets gold on the roads at Toyko 2020.

Gwen Jorgensen will make her eagerly anticipated second outing over 26.2 miles at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon on Sunday, October 7.

Jorgensen joins one of the deepest American women’s fields in the history of the Chicago Marathon, that includes the previously announced Jordan Hasay, Amy Cragg and Laura Thweatt.

Hasay currently ranks second on the list of all-time American marathoners with her 2:20:57 run at last year’’s race in the windy city. Her time was the fastest American time ever run on U.S. soil.

Cragg moved up to the fifth spot in U.S. history earlier this year with her 2:21:42 performance in Tokyo, and Thweatt claimed the ninth spot in London last year after she finished in 2:25:38. The last time three American women finished in the top five in Chicago was 1994, and the last time U.S. women claimed the top two spots was 1992. That could all change in 2018.

Jorgensen’’s potential in the marathon remains unknown after debuting at the New York City Marathon just nine weeks after she won gold in Rio in the triathlon. Given her lack of marathon-specific training, she impressed with a 14th-place finish and 2:41:01 time.

The 32 year-old grew into a legend as a triathlete: in addition to her gold medal (the only Olympic gold in the triathlon in U.S. history), she also won two world titles and an unprecedented 17 ITU World Triathlon Series races.

Jorgensen, who trains with Cragg and Shalane Flanagan as part of Nike’s Bowerman Track Club, took most of 2017 off to welcome her first child, and since making the leap into a full-time professional running career, has won the 2018 Stanford Invitational 10,000m in 31:55, finished fifth in the Peachtree road race, and finished seventh in the 10,000m at the USATF championships.

She also finished fourth in her half marathon debut at the U.S. Half Marathon Championships in 70:58.

Photo: Talbot Cox

In order for Jorgensen to come within reach of her bold goal of Olympic marathon gold in Toyko, she will first of all have to make one of the most competitive American women’s marathon team of all-time, by finishing in the top three at the Olympic Trials in February 2020. Her rivals that day in Atlanta will most likely include Hasay, Cragg, Shalane Flanagan, Des Linden and Molly Huddle among others.

In the men’s race, previously announced defending champion Galen Rupp, British record holder Mo Farah, Boston Marathon champion Yuki Kawauchi, past champions Abel Kirui and Dickson Chumba, will be joined by a top American field that includes Elkanah Kibet,  Tyler McCandless, Aaron Braun and Kiya Dandena.

American women’s field

Jordan Hasay / 2:20:57
Amy Cragg / 2:21:42
Laura Thweatt / 2:25:38
Sarah Crouch / 2:32:44
Taylor Ward / 2:35:27
Katie Matthews / 2:38:40
Kristen Heckert / 2:38:54
Gwen Jorgensen / 2:41:01

American men’s field

Galen Rupp / 2:06:07
Elkanah Kibet / 2:11:31
Tyler McCandless / 2:12:28
Aaron Braun / 2:12:54
Kiya Dandena / 2:12:56
Patrick Rizzo / 2:13:42
Andrew Bumbalough / 2:13:58
Johnny Crain / 2:15:46
Jonas Hampton / 2:15:46
Zach Hine / 2:16:40
Andrew Epperson / 2:16:54
Tony Migliozzi / 2:17:27
Chris Lemon / 2:18:06
Parker Stinson / 2:18:07
Alan Peterson / 2:18:47
George Alex / 2:19:36
Ryan Root / 2:19:51

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