NEW YORK – The New York City Marathon saw a display of athletic prowess as Kenyan runners secured the top spots in both the men’s and women’s races. Hellen Obiri emerged victorious in the women’s division, setting a new course record, while Benson Kipruto narrowly claimed the men’s title in a thrilling photo finish.
Obiri, a previous champion in 2023, completed the race in an impressive 2 hours, 19 minutes, and 51 seconds. She ran alongside Sharon Lokedi, the 2022 winner, before pulling ahead in the final mile, surpassing the previous record of 2:22.31 set in 2003. Sheila Chepkirui, the defending champion, finished third, with all three runners beating the previous course best.
The men’s race was a nail-biting contest between Kipruto and Alexander Mutiso, both from Kenya. The pair broke away from the pack around Mile 24. Kipruto appeared to have secured the win in the last 200 meters, but Mutiso launched a late surge in the final 50 meters, narrowly missing the victory. Kipruto finished in 2:08.09, with Mutiso clocking the same time. Albert Korir, the 2021 champion, finished third, completing a Kenyan sweep of the top three positions. Joel Reichow was the highest-placing American, finishing sixth.
Eliud Kipchoge, a celebrated marathoner, participated in the New York City Marathon for the first time, finishing 17th.
In the women’s race, the former champions separated themselves around Mile 20 in the Bronx. Fiona O’Keeffe, an American, and Sifan Hassan, from the Netherlands, were part of a group of five earlier in Manhattan, but could not keep up in the final miles. The race marked the first time since 2018 that the previous three women’s winners competed together. O’Keeffe finished fourth, followed by fellow American Annie Frisbie in fifth. Hassan, who won the Sydney Marathon two months prior, finished next.
The 26.2-mile course took runners through all five boroughs of New York City, beginning in Staten Island and ending in Central Park. The race, now in its 49th year across all five boroughs, started with only 55 finishers. Last year’s race saw a record 55,642 participants, which was the largest number until the London Marathon surpassed it earlier this year.
The weather conditions were ideal for running, with temperatures in the 50s Fahrenheit at the start of the race.
These events are a testament to the dedication and hard work of these athletes. Their commitment to excellence is inspiring. As Americans, we can learn from their discipline and strive for greatness in our own lives. The New York City Marathon stands as a reminder of the importance of perseverance and the pursuit of personal bests.
