It will be a battle of titans as some of Kenya’s finest athletes compete in the 54th edition of the New York City Marathon on Sunday, 2nd November.
The men’s star-studded field includes double Olympic champion Eliud Kipchoge, who will be making his debut in the race in which he enters as the fastest man with a time of 2:01:09.
Other Kenyans in the start list include Olympic bronze medallist Benson Kipruto (2:02:16), Olympian Alexander Mutiso (2:03:11), Abel Kipchumba (2:06:49), and former champion Albert Korir (2:06:53).
Kenyans will face stiff competition from defending champion Abdi Nageeye of the Netherlands, the Ethiopian duo of Kenenisa Bekele and Deresa Geleta, and the reigning World champion, Alphonce Felix Simbu of Tanzania.
Defending champion Sheila Chepkirui will lead the chase in the women’s field, boasting the 3rd fastest time (2:17:49), alongside 2025 Boston Marathon champion Sharon Lokedi with the 2nd fastest time (2:17:22), Olympic bronze medalist and 2023 champion Hellen Obiri (2:17:41), last year’s bronze medallist Vivian Cheruiyot, and 2010 champion Edna Kiplagat.
Among the Kenyan’s challengers are Olympic champion Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands, who will be making her debut with the fastest time (2:13:44); Gotytom Gebreslase of Ethiopia (2:18:11); and American Sara Hall, just to mention a few.
Sebastian Sawe of Kenya leads the 17th edition of the Abbott World Marathon Majors on 50 points, ahead of fellow East Africans Jacob Kiplimo from Uganda and Alphonce Felix Simbu of Tanzania, who are tied in 2nd position on 41 points.
Ethiopians Tigist Assefa and Hawi Feysa are 1st and 2nd in the women’s leaderboard with 41 and 34 points, respectively.
Sifan Hassan followed on 34 points, ahead of 4th-placed Kenyan Rosemary Wanjiru on 26 points, a point off her compatriots Sharon Lokedi and Peres Jepchirchir.
