Tamirat Tola in the lead pack, on his way to New York City Marathon victory (© AFP / Getty Images)
Organisers of the 2024 TCS New York City Marathon have revealed a world-class line up for this year’s World Athletics Platinum Label road race on 3 November, led by defending champions Tamirat Tola and Hellen Obiri.
Since winning last year in a course record of 2:04:58, Tola won the Olympic title in Paris in a Games record of 2:06:26. What made his feat all the more impressive is that he was only drafted into the Ethiopian team two weeks before the Games, having initially been named as a reserve.
“I’m excited to defend my title in New York, especially coming off an Olympic-record marathon performance,” said Tola. “The hilly course and crowds in Paris definitely prepared me well for the bridges and spectators in New York, where maybe I can go even faster this year.”
Two-time Olympic medallist Bashir Abdi will also be one to watch; the Belgian earned silver at the recent Olympics, having taken bronze at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 and at the 2022 World Championships.
Three past winners – all from Kenya – are also in the field: 2022 champion Evans Chebet, 2021 winner Albert Korir, and 2019 and 2017 victor Geoffrey Kamworor. Chebet has twice won the Boston Marathon, and has finished first or second in 13 marathons. Kamworor has made it on to the podium in all four of his New York Marathon appearances.
Fellow Kenyan Abel Kipchumba, who won this year’s NYC Half Marathon, will be making his New York City Marathon debut.
The US charge is led by Conner Mantz and Clayton Young, who finished eighth and ninth respectively in the Paris Olympic marathon.
Obiri is a three-time Olympic medallist and seven-time world medallist. Last year the Kenyan became the first woman in 34 years to win both Boston and New York in the same calendar year. So far this year, she retained her Boston Marathon title and went on to earn bronze in the Olympic marathon.
“There’s no place like New York, and I am so ready to defend my title,” said Obiri. “I have been racing very well on the roads in the US, and I hope I can have another good day that sees me in contention once we enter the final stages in Central Park.”
Fellow Kenyan Sharon Lokedi, the 2022 NYC Marathon winner, will return after finishing third last year and fourth in the Olympic marathon in Paris. The Kenyan delegation will also include 2010 champion Edna Kiplagat, four-time Olympic medallist Vivian Cheruiyot, and Sheila Chepkirui, who owns the fastest personal best in the field.
Ethiopia’s Tirunesh Dibaba will make her New York City Marathon debut and is one of the world’s most accomplished long-distance runners as a three-time Olympic and 16-time world champion. She will be joined by compatriot Senbere Teferi.
Dakotah Lindwurm, the top US finisher in the marathon at the Paris Olympics, will lead the US contingent.
Elite field
Women
Sheila Chepkirui (KEN) 2:17:29
Tirunesh Dibaba (ETH) 2:17:56
Vivian Cheruiyot (KEN) 2:18:31
Senbere Teferi (ETH) 2:19:21
Dera Dida (ETH) 2:19:24
Edna Kiplagat (KEN) 2:19:50
Eunice Chumba (BRN) 2:20:02
Sharon Lokedi (KEN) 2:22:45
Hellen Obiri (KEN) 2:23:10
Fatima Gardadi (MAR) 2:24:12
Kellyn Taylor (USA) 2:24:29
Fabienne Schlumpf (SUI) 2:24:30
Aliphine Tuliamuk (USA) 2:24:37
Dakotah Lindwurm (USA) 2:24:40
Lily Partridge (GBR) 2:25:12
Jessica McClain (USA) 2:25:46
Des Linden (USA) 2:25:55
Tristin Van Ord (USA) 2:25:58
Khishigasaikhan Galbadrakh (MGL) 2:26:32
Maggie Montoya (USA) 2:28:07
Katja Goldring (USA) 2:29:01
Savannah Berry (USA) 2:29:13
Men
Evans Chebet (KEN) 2:03:00
Gabriel Geay (TAN) 2:03:00
Bashir Abdi (BEL) 2:03:36
Tamirat Tola (ETH) 2:03:39
Geoffrey Kamworor (KEN) 2:04:23
Abdi Nageeye (NED) 2:04:45
Addisu Gobena (ETH) 2:05:01
Abel Kipchumba (KEN) 2:06:49
Albert Korir (KEN) 2:06:57
Conner Mantz (USA) 2:07:47
Clayton Young (USA) 2:08:00
Rory Linkletter (CAN) 2:08:01
Callum Hawkins (GBR) 2:08:14
Ser-Od Bat-Ochir (MGL) 2:08:50
Elkanah Kibet (USA) 2:09:07
Noah Droddy (USA) 2:09:09
Jonny Mellor (GBR) 2:09:09
Jared Ward (USA) 2:09:25
Colin Bennie (USA) 2:09:38
Futsum Zienasellassie (USA) 2:09:40
CJ Albertson (USA) 2:09:53
Nico Montanez (USA) 2:09:55
Yuma Morii (JPN) 2:09:59
