Running her first marathon since breaking a foot in last year’s Olympics, Deena Kastor, 36, was the first American finisher in Chicago.

Her sixth place time of 2:28:50 was almost three minutes behind winner Liliya Shobukhova of Russia, and nine minutes down on Kastor’s personal best, set winning the 2006 London Marathon.

Nevertheless Kastor was well satisfied with her performance, set in unseasonably cold conditions. “I lost time through needing to take a bathroom break, and also through a mix-up at one of the drinks stations.

“I had to start from scratch earlier this year, but I’ve just come down from three months’ hard training at altitude.

“I feel real good about where I am at right now and my foot feels great.”