Geoffrey Kamworor on his way to winning the New York City Marathon (© Getty Images)
Defending champion Evans Chebet will challenge two-time winner Geoffrey Kamworor when the TCS New York City Marathon returns on 5 November.
Edward Cheserek will make his marathon debut at the World Athletics Elite Platinum Label road race, while Letesenbet Gidey will race at the event for the first time.
Kenya’s Chebet won the New York City Marathon last year in 2:08:41, seven months after winning the Boston Marathon. He became the eighth man in history to win both races in the same year and the first since 2011. Chebet already retained his Boston title earlier this year and has finished first or second in 13 marathons.
“I feel very confident as I begin my preparations to defend my TCS New York City Marathon title,” Chebet said. “I understand that nobody has won Boston and New York in back-to-back years since Bill Rodgers in the 1970s, so making history will be my aim.”
Among those racing Chebet will be his compatriot Kamworor, the three-time world half marathon champion who is looking to become only the third athlete to win three TCS New York City Marathon men’s open division titles. He won in both 2019 and 2017, and has made the podium in all four of his appearances.
Israel’s recent world marathon silver medallist Maru Teferi, two-time world silver medallist Mosinet Geremew of Ethiopia, Olympic silver medallist Abdi Nageeye of the Netherlands, 2021 New York City Marathon champion Albert Korir of Kenya, two-time New York City Marathon runner-up Shura Kitata of Ethiopia, North American marathon record-holder Cam Levins of Canada, and this year’s NYC Half third-place Zouhair Talbi of Morocco will also toe the line.
Kenya’s Cheserek, the most decorated athlete in NCAA history, will make his 26.2-mile debut, while the US contingent will be led by national champion Futsum Zeinasellassie and 2021 New York City Marathon fourth-place finisher Elkanah Kibet.
Along with the previously announced New York City Marathon champion Sharon Lokedi, Boston Marathon champion Hellen Obiri, Olympic gold medallist and 2021 New York City Marathon champion Peres Jepchirchir, and marathon world-record holder Brigid Kosgei, all top six finishers from last year’s women’s race will return.
In addition to Lokedi and Obiri, last year’s runner-up Lonah Chemtai Salpeter of Israel, as well as third-place finisher and two-time World Championships medallist Gotytom Gebreslase of Ethiopia, will be back. Kenya’s Edna Kiplagat – a New York City, Boston, London and World Championships marathon winner – and Olympian Viola Cheptoo will also return.
Ethiopia’s Olympic and World Championships medallist Gidey, the 10,000m and half marathon world record-holder, recorded the fastest women’s marathon debut in history last year (2:16:49) in Valencia and will make her New York City Marathon debut. Yalemzerf Yehualaw, a World Championships bronze medallist and the 2022 London Marathon winner, will also line up for the first time.
Leading the US women will be two-time Olympian and three-time NYC Half champion Molly Huddle, who will be racing her third New York City Marathon after finishing third in 2016 and fourth in 2018. She will be joined by Kellyn Taylor, who has finished in the top 10 in all three of her New York City Marathon appearances, including sixth in 2021.
“I’m really excited to return to the TCS New York City Marathon, my first time back at the race since 2018 and my first marathon anywhere since becoming a mom,” Huddle said. “I think the nature of the New York course and the way the race typically unfolds suits me really well this fall, and it will be cool to head back to where my marathon career all started – on the streets of New York.”
Organisers for World Athletics
