Kenya wins both the men’s and women’s NYC Marathon podiums
Benson Kipruto survived an exciting sprint finish in two hours eight minutes and nine seconds, while Hellen Obiri won the women’s race in a course-record 2:19:51, as Kenya swept the men’s and women’s podiums at the New York City Marathon on Sunday.
In a photo finish, 2021 champion Albert Korir finished third (2:08:57), and Kipruto broke the record by less than two tenths of a second by running flat out through the last 50 meters to stave off a late charge from Alexander Mutiso.
“It was incredible. In a televised interview, Kipruto stated, “The last part was so hard.” “I was pushing so hard to make sure I win.”
Kipruto, who was in a two-man race with Mutiso at the 25-mile mark and seemed to be in total control with 200 meters remaining, won his fourth major championship.
But Mutiso’s daring late attack amid enormous cheers in Central Park forced him to speed through the last straight.
After breaking away before of the last bend to win her fourth major championship, 2023 Paris bronze medallist Obiri was running shoulder-to-shoulder with runner-up Sharon Lokedi (2:20:07) and had an easy finish.
Sheila Chepkirui, the winner from the previous year (2:20:24), finished third.
“We had a very strong field,” Obiri stated after earning an additional $50,000 for shattering the track record of 2:22:31 set by Margaret Okayo, who was 22 at the time. “(I told myself) let me try to do my best, let me push.”
In the wheelchair division, American Susannah Scaroni won the women’s race in 1:42:10, while Switzerland’s Marcel Hug won the men’s race in 1:30:16, setting a new record.
Eliud Kipchoge, the only guy to break the two-hour mark in the marathon and a two-time Olympic winner from Kenya, finished 17th in 2:14:36.
In the face of intense rumors that New York might be his last competitive marathon, Kipchoge, 40, declared that he would be on a two-year journey to run seven marathons on seven continents as part of his “Eliud Kipchoge World Tour.”
After a doping suspension for the women’s world record holder rocked competitive distance running, the World Marathon Majors calendar concluded the year with the five-borough classic.
Late last month, Kenyan Ruth Chepngetich admitted to breaking anti-doping rules and was given a three-year sentence.
