Nageeye and Chepkirui claim New York Marathon crowns

Abdi Nageeye and Sheila Chepkirui outkicked their rivals in the closing stages to triumph at the TCS New York City Marathon, respectively winning the World Athletics Platinum Label road race in 2:07:39 and 2:24:35 on Sunday (3).

Nageeye of the Netherlands surged away from Evans Chebet over the final 400m to secure victory in the men’s race, while Kenya’s Chepkirui used similar tactics to win the women’s race as she kicked away from defending champion Hellen Obiri to claim the biggest win of her career so far on her New York City Marathon debut.

Chebet secured his second place finish in 2:07:45 and was followed by his Kenyan compatriot Albert Korir, who clocked 2:08:00 for third. Ethiopia’s Tamirat Tola, the Olympic champion and last year’s winner and course record-setter in New York, finished fourth a further 12 seconds back.

Obiri held on for the women’s runner-up spot in 2:24:49, forming part of a Kenyan top three alongside Vivian Cheruiyot, who followed her compatriots over the finish line in 2:25:21.

Nageeye, Chebet, Korir and Tola all formed part of the large lead men’s group that reached 10km in 31:27 and 15km in 46:54. The leaders hit halfway in 1:05:33 and Tola moved to the front, pushing the pace, but 12 other men were still within three seconds of him. That lead group was 14 strong by 25km, reached in 1:17:48, but only six could stick with the tempo by 30km – Chebet, Tola, Korir and Nageeye joined by Kenya’s Geoffrey Kamworor and Wesley Kiptoo.

Kiptoo was dropped on approach to the 32km mark and was 10 seconds back by the time they hit that split. Korir was next to fall back, followed by Tola who was dropped quickly as Kamworor and Chebet continued to push the pace.

They couldn’t shake off Nageeye, however, and the Tokyo Olympics silver medallist followed Chebet as they moved away from Kamworor at around 37km. They reached 40km together in 2:01:10 and at that point Kamworor had faded to fifth, overtaken by Tola and Korir.

Feeling good, Nageeye made a move of his own and Chebet couldn’t respond, the 2022 champion in New York watching as Nageeye strode to victory after having previously placed third, fourth and fifth in this race.

“At the finish I was like, ‘am I dreaming or not?’ I won New York,” said Nageeye, running his first marathon since being unable to finish his race at the Paris Olympics. “I was so focused. Hard work was behind it.”

In the women’s race, a group of 20 was separated by four seconds as the leaders hit 10km in 35:24 and 15km in 52:37. Chepkirui was to the fore at the halfway mark, leading the group of 21 through in 1:13:59.

Chepkirui remained ahead as the pack reached 25km in 1:27:55 but by 28km it was Cheruiyot’s turn at the front ahead of Obiri and Ethiopia’s Senbere Teferi, as the pace picked up.

The faster tempo did some damage, with the lead group down to 10 as 30km was passed in 1:44:47. Cheruiyot tried to make a break but was reeled in by Obiri and Chepkirui, and five athletes – that trio joined by Teferi and Bahrain’s Eunice Chumba – were back together by 34km, reaching 35km in 2:01:23.

Teferi was dropped at around 36km, with Chepkirui applying pressure at the front. Obiri was following closely, with Cheruiyot to the side and Chumba a few strides behind, struggling to stick with them.

The race was down to three as the leaders hit 40km in 2:17:47, Chepkirui and Obiri locked in battle with Cheruiyot a couple of seconds back. Chepkirui was always a step ahead but she couldn’t drop Obiri, known for her finishing strength.

But with 400m to go, it was Chepkirui who had opened a gap. Obiri, who was the winner in Boston and New York last year and was champion in Boston again in April, couldn’t hold on this time to complete a ‘double double’ and Chepkirui powered away to win by 14 seconds.

“The last mile was really hard but I pushed myself to the limit,” said Chepkirui. “I’m really happy.”

Chumba finished fourth in 2:25:58 and Switzerland's Fabienne Schlumpf was fifth.

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