Sheila Chepkirui of Kenya won her New York City Marathon debut, outpacing compatriot Hellen Obiri in the final stretch to secure victory in 2:24:35 at the TCS New York City Marathon on Sunday.
The Kenyan dominance continued as Evans Chebet and Albert Korir claimed the second and third spots in the men’s race, adding to an outstanding showing by the East African nation.
Chepkirui’s remarkable win came through a gutsy performance as she edged out Obiri, who had claimed the title in New York and Boston last year and had hoped to complete a rare ‘double double’ by defending both marathon titles.
Chepkirui, however, proved unstoppable, powering through the last 400 meters to create a winning gap and secure the biggest triumph of her marathon career.
“The last mile was really hard, but I pushed myself to the limit,” said an elated Chepkirui after the race. “I’m really happy.” Her time of 2:24:35 left Obiri, who finished 14 seconds behind in 2:24:49, settling for second place.
Another Kenyan marathon legend, Vivian Cheruiyot, rounded out the women’s podium in 2:25:21, underscoring Kenya’s stronghold in the race.
The women’s race began with a tightly packed group of 20 runners hitting the 10km mark in 35:24. Chepkirui was a consistent presence at the front, leading the pack through the halfway point in 1:13:59.
Although Vivian Cheruiyot and Obiri tested the pace throughout, Chepkirui managed to stay in control, countering each challenge that came her way.
At 40km, Chepkirui and Obiri were locked in a fierce battle for victory, with Cheruiyot only a couple of seconds behind. Yet, with her powerful final push, Chepkirui finally managed to shake off Obiri’s renowned finishing strength, seizing the victory.
In the men’s race, Dutch marathoner Abdi Nageeye emerged victorious, crossing the finish line in 2:07:39 after an intense final duel with Kenya’s Evans Chebet.
Nageeye, who won silver at the Tokyo Olympics, displayed his resilience and strategy, outkicking Chebet over the final 400 meters.
His victory was the result of a carefully executed race, staying with the lead group through a challenging pace set by Ethiopia’s Tamirat Tola and a host of Kenyan competitors.
The men’s field was crowded with talent as runners from Ethiopia and Kenya, including Tola, Chebet, Korir, and Geoffrey Kamworor, maintained a blistering pace, reaching 10km in 31:27 and the halfway mark in 1:05:33.
Tola took a commanding lead around 25km, pushing the pace as 12 runners continued to stay within striking distance.
By 30km, however, only six remained in contention: Chebet, Tola, Korir, Nageeye, Kamworor, and Wesley Kiptoo. As Kiptoo fell back near 32km, the remaining athletes pressed on, with Nageeye and Chebet eventually breaking away around the 37km mark.
In the final kilometers, Nageeye made his decisive move, leaving Chebet to finish second in 2:07:45, with Albert Korir securing third in 2:08:00. Tola, the defending champion and course record holder, finished fourth in 2:08:12.
“At the finish, I was like, ‘Am I dreaming or not? I won New York,’” a jubilant Nageeye said. “I was so focused. Hard work was behind it.” His performance marked a notable comeback, as he had struggled to finish his race at the Paris Olympics earlier this year.
The New York City Marathon delivered once again as one of the sport’s most anticipated road races, showcasing thrilling performances from some of the world’s top marathoners.
Kenyans’ formidable display highlighted their standing as a marathon powerhouse, securing both the women’s victory through Chepkirui and the men’s podium spots through Chebet and Korir.
Obiri, though unable to defend her title, showed tenacity, while Cheruiyot’s third-place finish added to Kenya’s legacy at the event.
With strong performances from veterans and new faces alike, the TCS New York City Marathon underscored the global appeal and intensity of competitive distance running, leaving fans eager for next year’s race.
Leading results
Women
1 Sheila Chepkirui (KEN) 2:24:35
2 Hellen Obiri (KEN) 2:24:49
3 Vivian Cheruiyot (KEN) 2:25:21
4 Eunice Chumba (BRN) 2:25:58
5 Fabienne Schlumpf (SUI) 2:26:31
6 Sara Vaughn (USA) 2:26:56
7 Senbere Teferi (ETH) 2:27:14
8 Jessica McClain (USA) 2:27:19
Men
1 Abdi Nageeye (NED) 2:07:39
2 Evans Chebet (KEN) 2:07:45
3 Albert Korir (KEN) 2:08:00
4 Tamirat Tola (ETH) 2:08:12
5 Geoffrey Kamworor (KEN) 2:08:50
6 Conner Mantz (USA) 2:09:00
7 Clayton Young (USA) 2:09:21
8 Abel Kipchumba (KEN) 2:10:39
