CHICAGO, IL -- To say that Khalid Khannouchi has dominated the streets of Chicago is an understatement. With four victories at The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon, including a world record-setting performance in 1999 - he broke it three years later in London -- Khannouchi's dominance is one of the great sports stories in Chicago.

Khannouchi, 31, the fastest marathon runner in history, will return to his home away from home to showcase his dominance in marathoning on the streets of Chicago. Khannouchi, who is in town this week meeting with executive race director Carey Pinkowski, has committed to run his sixth LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon.

"Khalid Khannouchi is undoubtedly the greatest marathon runner of all time," Pinkowski said. "His epic performances and dramatic finishes in Chicago are some of, if not the best, moments in the history of marathoning."

Khannouchi finished first in dramatic fashion last year. From the minute the race began, Khannouchi went head to head with some of the greatest distance runners of all time, including Paul Tergat, defending champion Ben Kimondiu, and two-time London Marathon champion Abdelkhader El Mouaziz.

But it was Toshinari Takaoka who would provide Khannouchi with his biggest challenge as the Japanese 10,000m champion broke out from the pack at mile 19 to take a 21-second lead at mile 23. But Khannouchi launched a tremendous kick at mile 24 as he was set to accelerate past Takaoka.

And it seemed as though history was repeating itself. The scene to come was all too familiar.

Khannouchi and Takaoka were running side by side, shoulder to shoulder when Khannouchi broke away from Takaoka like a roadrunner in the middle of the McCormick Place Tunnel. He then gracefully fell to the ground in a pool of emotions as he crossed the finish line in 2:05:56. Tears slowly rolled down his eyes and his voice trembled as he realized what he had just accomplished - four first-place finishes in Chicago and the only marathoner to have three sub 2:06 performances.

"Khalid's standard of success and his repeated dominance are beyond impressive," Pinkowski said. "I anticipate another strong performance from him as he challenges his own world record (2:05:38) in the 2003 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon."

It was three years earlier in 1999 that Khalid broke away from Moses Tanui in that same tunnel, making up a 40-second deficit to set the then world record (2:05:42). It is these storybook performances that have made Khannouchi's name synonymous with The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon, which has arguably become one of the best marathons in the world. The Chicago race has seen 37,500 registrants two years in a row and a field of some of the greatest male and female marathoners in the world including once world record performances by Paula Radcliffe and Catherine Ndereba.

"Over the past six years, Chicago has been a super place for many athletes who search for fast times," Khannouchi said. He added that feels at home in Chicago and thrives on the overwhelming support received from the hundreds of thousands who line the course and cheer him on.

"I feel like I am running in my own backyard every time I race in Chicago, especially with the strong support I receive from the people of Chicago," he said. "I'm very glad to be back once more and to have the pleasure to hear my name once again all around the fast course of the LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon."

With Khannouchi leading the field of elite athletes thus far, the 2003 Chicago race is shaping up to have another impressive field. Top athletes seem to always perform extremely well in Chicago because of the flat, fast course and the depth of the elite field that creates strong competition. Chicago has built a solid reputation and has become the top marathon in the U.S.

Khannouchi currently holds the World Record and the American Record. His unmatched marathon success started with his 1997 debut victory in Chicago in 2:07:10 - the fastest marathon debut ever. In 1998, Khannouchi placed second in Chicago but came back to set a then world record of 2:05:42 at The 1999 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon. After becoming an American citizen in May of 2000, Khannouchi set a then American marathon record of 2:07:01 with his third Chicago victory in the fall of 2000.

Khannouchi, who withdrew from the London Marathon this year, overcame one of the strongest fields ever assembled to lower his own world record in a victory at the 2002 London Marathon with a time of 2:05:38. The dramatic race included Khannouchi once again accelerating past two of the greatest distance runners ever - Tergat and Haile Gebresalassie - in the final two miles of the race.

Khannouchi will head to Albuquerque, New Mexico to begin intense training in preparation for the 2003 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon.

"What also makes Khannouchi the athlete he is, is his dedication to training, preparation, and overall health and fitness," Pinkowski said. "His preparation, competitive spirit, and drive for greatness are what make him one the greatest athletes in the world. I can't wait to see him perform here once again in Chicago."

Elite athletes will compete this fall for the highest marathon purse ever, $550,000. The male and female winners each will earn $100,000, the largest first-place payout in the sport. The 2003 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon begins Sunday, Oct. 12 at 8 a.m., starting and finishing in Chicago's Grant Park and is expected to draw up to the increased registration cap of 40,000 participants.

For more information on The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon, check out, www.chicagomarathon.com