Defending champions Tamirat Tola and Hellen Obiri are geared up for the upcoming New York City Marathon, aiming to secure back-to-back victories in the prestigious event. Tola, who set a course record last year, expressed his confidence in his abilities to defend his title against a strong field of competitors.
If Tola manages to clinch the victory on Sunday, he will make history as the first man to repeat as champion in New York since Geoffrey Mutai’s back-to-back wins in 2011 and 2013. Additionally, Tola is eyeing a significant milestone by becoming only the second runner to win both an Olympic gold and the NYC marathon in the same year, following in the footsteps of Peres Jepchirchir in 2021.
On the women’s side, Obiri, the defending champion, is determined to secure another victory and become the first woman to achieve consecutive wins since Mary Keitany’s impressive three-year winning streak from 2014-2016. Obiri faces tough competition from past champions Sharon Lokedi and Edna Kiplagat, as well as strong contenders like American standouts Dakotah Popehn and Jenny Simpson.
The race features a stellar field of athletes, including past winners Geoffrey Kamworor, Albert Korir, and Evans Chebet on the men’s side, and Swiss stars Marcel Hug and Manuela Schär in the wheelchair fields. With over 50,000 runners finishing the race last year, the NYC Marathon continues to attract participants from around the world.
In an effort to enhance the overall experience for participants, the New York Road Runners organization has collaborated with the city and arts organizations to offer deals on museum entries and Broadway show tickets. Additionally, runners had the opportunity to support environmental initiatives by joining the “Team for Climate” and donating for carbon credits to gain entry into the race.
As the runners prepare to tackle the challenging course, all eyes will be on Tola and Obiri as they aim to make history and secure their places among the elite athletes of the New York City Marathon. The stage is set for an exciting showdown on race day, with fans eagerly anticipating the thrilling competition and remarkable performances from the defending champions and their competitors.
