- Defending champion Sharon Lokedi will be back
- Former champ Peres Jepchirchir is also confirmed
- Hellen Obiri will be seeking her second marathon victory
Organizers have confirmed the first set of elite athletes for this year’s New York Marathon, with reigning champion Sharon Lokedi back to defend her crown. Lokedi has not raced in another marathon since winning on debut in New York last year.
She had been set to race in Boston early this year, but pulled out due to injury.
She will form first of the four top profile athletes confirmed, with reigning Boston champion Hellen Obiri, former New York winner and reigning Olympic champion Peres Jepchirchir as well as world record holder Brigid Kosgei all confirmed to be racing in the November 5 race.
“Last year, I came into the New York City Marathon with the goal of being in the thick of the race, and the result was better than I could have ever hoped for. This year, I’m returning with a different mindset, hungry to defend my title and race against the fastest women in the world,” Lokedi said ahead of the race.
Obiri will look to battle for her second marathon title, having clinched her maiden victory in Boston this year, a race that was only her second over the distance.
“With a year of marathon experience now under my belt, a win in Boston, and my move to the U.S., I’m coming to New York this year with more confidence and in search of a title,” Obiri said.
Peres looking for another victory in New York
Peres Jepchirchir celebrates victory during a past marathon
Jepchirchir meanwhile is the only athlete to have won the Olympic marathon, New York City Marathon, and Boston Marathon. She is also a two-time world championships gold medalist in the half marathon. In 2021, she won the Tokyo Olympic marathon to claim Kenya’s second consecutive gold medal in the event.
Four months later, she won the New York City Marathon, finishing in 2:22:39, the third-fastest time in event history and eight seconds off the event record. In April 2022, in a back-and-forth race that came down to the final mile, she fended off Ethiopian Ababel Yeshaneh to take the Boston Maraton title on Boylston Street in her debut in the race in 2:21:02. This April, she recorded another podium finish, taking third at the TCS London Marathon.
“I was so disappointed that I couldn’t defend my title in New York last year due to an injury, and winning again in Central Park has been my main motivation as I begin my preparations for the autumn,” Jepchirchir said.
She added; “New York is an important step in defending my Olympic gold medal next summer in Paris, and I will do my best to make my family and my country proud.”
Kosgei looking for another major victory
Brigid Kosgei wins the women’s Tokyo Marathon
Kosgei is the world-record holder in the marathon and has won an Olympic silver medal and five Abbott World Marathon Majors races; she will now make her New York debut.
“I am very excited to make my New York City debut, and attempt to win my fourth different Major,” Kosgei said.
She added; “I am not worried about the course, as I have had success in hilly marathons before, but New York has always been about head-to-head competition, and I know I must be in the best possible shape to compete with the other women in the race.”
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