Two-time New York Marathon champion Hellen Obiri has revealed that Sheila Chepkirui played a huge role in her record-breaking run in the Big Apple, driving her to outgun a formidable Sifan Hassan.
On November 2, Obiri stormed to a course-record 2:19:51, leading a Kenyan podium sweep with Sharon Lokedi (2:20:07) and Chepkirui (2:20:24) sealing second and third place.
Obiri's mark eclipsed the previous course record of 2:22:31 set by Margaret Okayo in 2003.
However, Obiri revealed that heading into the race, the Dutch star Sifan Hassan posed a major threat to her.
“We told each other that Sifan is strong and had raced very well in Sydney. I have never won a race we had raced together with Sifan," Obiri told the New York Road Runners.
“This was the second time I was racing her, and I had yet to beat her.” Before her appearance in New York, Sifan had stormed to victory in Sydney, clocking 2:18:22.
Previously, the two had met at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, where Sifan claimed the Olympic gold in a course record of 2:22:55, with Ethiopia's Tigst Assefa (2:22:58) and Obiri (2:23:10) settling for silver and bronze, respectively.
With the looming shadow of a strong Sifan on Kenya's shoulders, Obiri revealed that Chepkirui had steadied her nerves, pushed her to victory.
“Sheila did an excellent job because she was communicating with us, urging us to push on.”
“When we broke off, she told us that Sifan is behind us now, so we need to push and create distance between ourselves and her,” Obiri said.
However, true to her unrelenting nature, Sifan tried to surge back into the race. With nerves building after Sifan’s attack, Chepkirui yet again calmed the Kenyan trio.
“At 25k, Sifan came back, and that made me nervous. I thought it was over for us now.”
“Sheila told us just to keep pushing with the pace, and at 32k, I looked behind and saw Sifan was way behind, it was just the three of us, so we had to fight,” she said.
With Sifan out of the picture, it became a Kenyan affair with Obiri determined to seize the title.
“I told myself that Sheila won here last year, Sharon has won Boston and Sifan Sydney, and I haven't won a marathon this year, so I had to win.”
Last year's New York race saw Chepkirui win in 2:24:35 while Lokedi had reigned supreme at this year's Boston race in 2:17:22.
Despite her desire to win, Lokedi also posed a significant threat due to her explosive finishing kick.
“I knew I had to be patient up to the last minute because Lokedi had a good finishing kick; she had run so well in Boston. I knew I had to have a good finishing kick if I was to beat her.”
“I was so nervous about Lokedi because she was pushing hard just like Boston. With 800m to go, I checked my watch and saw I was within the course record. When Sharon pulled back, I got more energy to push for the win.”
The trio went on to seal a Kenyan podium sweep, with Sifan settling for sixth place (2:24:43). Further, Obiri revealed that motivation from two-time New York champion Tegla Loroupe inspired her pursuit of the record.
“Breaking the course record was in my mind, but the priority was to win the race first.”
“Before the race, I talked to Tegla Loroupe, and she told me I need to run a course record in New York.”
“I knew I was very ready and I was in the best shape of my life,” she said.
