Explosive Kenyan mix in New York Marathon
Evans Chebet of Kenya crosses the finish line and takes first place in the professional Men's Division during the 127th Boston Marathon on April 17, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts
A world-class line up, led by the world beating Kenyan distance runners will fight it out in the year’s final Majors, the New York Marathon today.
Kenya’s Evans Chebet, the fastest man -- 2hr 03min 00sec -- in the field today, will be looking to reclaim the men’s title that he won in 2022.
He comes up against his fellow Kenyans, Geoffrey Kamworor, who is coming back from an injury and has a personal best time of 2:04:23, Abel Kipchumba (2:06:49), fifth at the Berlin Marathon in 2022 and Albert Korir (2:06:57), second in New York last year.
To add fuel to this tinderbox is the defending champion Tamirat Tola of Ethiopia.
Helen Obiri (PB 2:23:10), bronze medallists at this year’s Paris Olympic Games will be looking to defend her women’s title.
She will have to reckon with compatriot Sheila Chepkirui, the fastest woman in the field with a time of 2:17:31 and Sharon Lokedi, who won the race two years ago.
There is also 2018 London Marathon champion Vivian Cheruiyot (2:18:31), and 2021 Boston Marathon champion Edna Kiplagat (2:19:50)
The men’s and women’s winners will each pocket $100,000 (Sh12.9 million) in prize money.
Runners up will earn $60,000 (Sh7.7m) and the third placed finishes $40,000 (Sh5.2m).
Chebet could not defend his New York title last year after withdrawing with an injury.
He finished third at Boston Marathon in April as he returned from injury and will be hungry for glory.
The 36-year-old Chebet, a two-time Boston Marathon winner has claimed a top two finish in 13 of the 28 career marathons he has competed in.
Chebet is known for running from behind and always loves to hang out until the final three to five kilometres when he strikes out.
Kamworor who trains in Kaptagat, Elgeyo Marakwet County has been out of competition for a long time with an ankle injury.
He pulled out of the this years’ London Marathon with a hip problem.
The soft-spoken athlete is not new to the course. He debut in New York in 2015 finishing second with a timing of 2:10:48 before winning the title in 2017 in 2:10:53.
He finished third in 2018 in a fast time of 2:06:26 before reclaiming the crown in 2019 in 2:08:13.
The 2021 champion, Korir, will fancy his chances again on his fifth run in New York.
Ethiopia’s Tola is the reigning Olympics marathon champion and how he would love to add a back-to-back New York title to his name.
Cheruiyot, who is competing in the New York Marathon for the second time after her second-paced finish in 2018, will renew her rivalry with the US-based Obiri, who is racing this Major for the third time .
Lokedi who has been training in Arizona, will also be eyeing a great comeback after finishing third last year. She finished fourth at the Olympic Games behind Obiri.
Another athlete to watch is the 44-year-old Kiplagat who has been training in Longmont in California.
She finished seventh last year and claimed third spot at Boston Marathon this year.
