(REUTERS) - Kenyan Dickson Chumba pulled away from compatriot Sammy Kitwara and comfortably won a slow Chicago Marathon in a sweep for the African nation on Sunday.

Chumba, wearing a bright yellow singlet, clocked an unofficial 2hr 9min 25sec as twice runner-up Kitwara recorded his fourth consecutive top-four finish, placing 25sec behind.

Kenyan Sammy Ndungu took third in 2:10:06.

World half-marathon record holder Florence Kiplagat from Kenya claimed the women's race, breaking away at 40km to set a time of 2:23:33.

Ethiopian Yebrgual Melese came in 10sec behind her and was followed by compatriot Birhane Dibaba in 2:24:24.

The race was run without pace-setters for the first time in 26 years and it noticeably affected times and strategy on the flat, typically fast course.