Hellen Obiri ready to defend New York Marathon title against world's best

Hellen Obiri wins the New York Half Marathon. [World Athletics]

Kenyan distance running sensation Hellen Obiri is ready to take on a highly competitive field at the New York City Marathon this Sunday, as she aims to defend her title against some of the world’s best marathoners.

Obiri, who made history last year by becoming the first woman in 34 years to win both the Boston and New York marathons in a single calendar year, is determined to once again prove her dominance on the streets of New York.

“There’s no place like New York, and I am so ready to defend my title,” said Obiri, whose impressive marathon resume also includes a bronze medal at the recent Paris Olympics.

“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.”

The Kenyan delegation is particularly strong, with past New York City champions Evans Chebet, Geoffrey Kamworor, and Albert Korir joining Obiri in the pursuit of victory.

Chebet, who claimed the New York crown in 2022, is coming off a series of stellar performances, including two Boston Marathon wins and an incredible record of finishing first or second in 13 marathons.

Kamworor, meanwhile, is renowned for his consistency in New York, having finished on the podium in all four of his previous appearances.

As a three-time world half marathon champion and two-time world cross-country champion, Kamworor is widely regarded as one of the most versatile distance runners on the circuit.

Another name to watch is Abel Kipchumba, who makes his New York City Marathon debut. Kipchumba warmed up for Sunday’s race by winning the Great North Run in September, showing he is in peak form.

Sharon Lokedi, the 2022 NYC Marathon winner, is also back after a strong fourth-place finish in the Olympic marathon, and veteran Edna Kiplagat, at 44, continues to defy age, having set a personal best earlier this year in the half marathon.

In the women’s race, Obiri will face a strong Ethiopian contingent led by three-time Olympic champion Tirunesh Dibaba, who is making her New York debut.

The battle for the women’s title promises to be intense, with fellow Kenyans Vivian Cheruiyot, a former world champion, and Sheila Chepkirui, the fastest entrant with a personal best of 2:17:29, also in the mix.

The men’s race sees Ethiopia’s defending champion Tamirat Tola seeking to retain his title after setting a course record last year.

Tola, fresh from an Olympic gold in Paris, will need to fend off Kenya’s elite and two-time Olympic medallist Bashir Abdi from Belgium, who recently earned silver in Paris.

As Obiri and her compatriots step onto New York’s storied streets, the Kenyan delegation hopes to extend its legacy in the Big Apple, with the battle shaping up to be a gripping display of endurance and strategy.

For fans, it’s set to be a thrilling race as the world’s best marathoners clash for glory. [Additional reporting by World Athletics]