Two-time world 5,000m champion Hellen Obiri will make her marathon debut at the New York City Marathon on November 6.
Obiri will be in the company of Olympic champion Peres Jepchirchir, 2010 New York City, 2014 London and 2017 Boston Marathon champion Edna Kiplagat, last year’s runner-up Viola Cheptoo and newcomer Sharon Lokedi.
Obiri ran her last race on track at the World Championships in Oregon where she bagged silver in the 10,000m.
Obiri, a two-time Olympic medalist and seven-time individual world championships medalist, said: “I'm very excited to make my marathon debut at the TCS New York City Marathon."
"I have watched the race many times on TV and have seen my Kenyan colleagues compete there. I know New York is a tough course, but I hope my experience on track, road, and cross-country will help me navigate the ups and downs. I also plan to get advice and tips from coach Dathan Ritzenhein, who competed in the race several times in the past.”
Her debut in the race will not be a walk in the park as she will be joined by world champion Gotyom Gebreslase from Ethiopia and four-time national champion Lonah Salpeter from Israel. The two will also be debuting in the same.
In 2021, Obiri participated in the N Kolay Istanbul Half Marathon and she placed third in 1:04:51. She also participated in this year’s N Kolay Istanbul Half Marathon back in April where she secured the first position in 1:04:48.
Gebreslase won the world championships marathon recording a personal best time of 2:18:11. She also competed in the 2021 Tokyo Marathon and finished third in a time of 2:18:18. She will definitely be one to watch when the race kicks off.
Salpeter is also a force to reckon with when it comes to the women’s marathon. In the 2020 Tokyo Marathon, Salpeter ran a national record time of 2:17:45 to win the race. In the just concluded world championships in Oregon, she placed third by clocking 2:20:18 to cross the finish line.
In the men’s edition, Boston Marathon champion Evans Chebet and defending champion Albert Korir will be looking to shine in the competition.
Chebet is the fastest in the field with a personal best time of 2:03:00 which he ran in Valencia, Spain in 2020. On the other hand, Korir has a personal best time of 2:08:03 which he ran in the 2019 Scotia bank Ottawa marathon.
Korir will be seeking to defend the title he won last year in 2:08:22.
Ethiopia’s Shura Kitata will also be in the race. He ran his personal best time of 2:04.49 in the 2018 London Marathon.
Netherland’s Abdi Nageeye is also the man to watch with a personal best time of 2:04:56 which he marked when he ran in the 2022 NN marathon in Rotterdam. He is also the 2020 Tokyo Olympics Silver medalist.
Olympic silver medalist Galen Rupp will be looking to shine on home soil. He has a personal best time of 2:06.07 which he ran in 2018 in Europe.
This New York City marathon will not be like the past editions as some of the finest athletes will be gracing the occasion. It is definitely one to watch as you cheer your favourite athlete.
