The men’s Olympic champion and Olympic women’s bronze medalist from Paris 2024 returns to the Big Apple on Sunday with the aim of winning again.
Twelve months ago it was Tamirat Tola and Helen Obiri The winners of the TCS New York City Marathon have been crowned. Tola has since won Olympic gold and Obiri bronze in Paris. And on Sunday (November 3), they return to defend their titles in New York.
Tola set a record of 2:04:58 in New York last year, beating Geoffrey Mutai’s previous record of 2:05:06 in 2011. Obiri, meanwhile, won just as impressively but under different circumstances as the Kenyan. Letesenbeth Gidey, Sharon Lockedy and Brigid Cosgey were all drawn in an exciting Central Park battle in the latter stages.
“I’m excited to defend my title in New York, especially after my Olympic record marathon performance,” said Tola. “The hilly course and the crowds in Paris definitely prepared me well for the bridges and spectators in New York, where I can probably go even faster this year.”
Obiri adds: “There’s no place like New York and I’m so ready to defend my title on what has become one of my favorite days of the year.”
Tamirat Tola (Getty)
Tola’s rivals this weekend include Bashir Abdi, the Belgian who finished 21 seconds behind Tola in Paris and upgraded his bronze from Tokyo 2021 to silver in the French capital. Moreover, Abdi is the European record holder with 2:03:36 from Rotterdam three years ago.
Kenyan Evans Chebet, 35, is the fastest man in the field in 2:03:00, and the 2022 New York Marathon champion is joined by 2021 winner Albert Korir, 2019 and 2017 winner Geoffrey Kamworor and this year’s New York Half champion Abel Kipchumba.
Bashir Abdi (Getty)
That means there are four previous winners in the men’s race: Tola, Chebet, Korir and Kamworor.
The U.S. challenge will be led by Conner Mantz and Clayton Young, who train together and finished eighth and ninth in the Olympic marathon.
Britain’s Callum Hawkins, who finished fourth in the marathon world championships in 2017 and 2019, is struggling in the race after a series of injuries.
READ MORE. Callum Hawkins interview
In the women’s race, Obiri, among others, 2022 champion Sharon Lockedi – fourth at the Olympics and second in Boston back in March.
As in the men’s race, Kenya has a host of contenders, including not only Obiri and Lockedi, but also 2010 champion Edna Kiplagat, four-time Olympic medalist Vivian Cheruyo and 2:17:2 runner Sheila Chepkirui.
Helen Obiri (Getty)
Ethiopia’s Tirunesh Dibaba, a three-time Olympian and 16 world medalist, is making his New York City Marathon debut. However, the all-time richest man has been out of form recently and his last marathon was in 2018.
Of course, there is plenty of experience at this event with Kiplagat now 44, Cheruiyot 41 and Dibaba 39.
Tirunesh Dibaba (Mark Shearman)
In the women’s race, the U.S. challenge will be led by Dakota Popen (née Lindwurm), the top-ranked American at the Olympics, plus Des Linden, Alifin Tulyamuk, Kellyn Taylor and Jenny Simpson.
Lily Partridge leads the British race as she competes in her third ever 26.2-mile race, having already finished eighth and 21st in the 2018 London and 2023 Valencia marathons.
Lily Partridge (David Hewitson)
In the wheelchair race, Marcel Hug will be the favorite in the men’s field and is looking for his seventh victory in the Big Apple.
“The TCS New York City Marathon marks a brilliant end to the major marathons of the year, and the energy of the city and the enthusiasm of the spectators is unmatched, which motivates me to give it my all,” says Hoog.
Britain’s David Weir and Johnboy Smith will be gunning for podium places, with the former not stopping at 45 anytime soon.
Eden Rainbow-Cooper will once again fly the flag in America and aim to recreate her historic victory at the Boston Marathon, where she became the first ever British woman to win the prestigious race.
Manuela Cher, Madison de Rosario, Tatiana McFadden and Susanna Scaroni will challenge her for the win.
The New York Marathon is shown live on Discovery+ for UK viewers from 13:30-16:00 GMT.
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