Hellen Obiri produced a phenomenal performance to win her 2nd New York City Marathon title in style with a new course record in the 54th edition on Sunday.
Obiri outsprinted past the Boston Marathon champion Sharon Lokedi with less than a kilometre to go to cross the finish line in 2 hours, 19 minutes, and 51 seconds to regain the title she won in 2023.
It was a three-horse race until the 35km mark, after which the defending champion Sheila Chepkirui dropped off, leaving Obiri and Lokedi, who went neck and neck until the 41km mark.
The Olympic bronze medalist put on a finishing kick to emerge victorious relegating Lokedi to silver in 2:20.09, while Chepkirui placed 3rd in 2:20.24.
The Kenyan who also becomes the first ever female athlete to run sub-2:20 in NYC and has broken Margaret Okayo’s course record of 2:22:31, which was set in 2003.
