The last time Hellen Obiri and Sharon Lokedi lined up and took to the same streets in March, a masterclass of racing was the tale of the NYC Half — and Obiri was dominant.
But just over two months later, both will return to the same streets on June 6 and were announced by New York Road Runners as part of a loaded professional field for the Mastercard Mini 10K.
Obiri and Lokedi will have plenty of company on the course as Agnes Ngetich, Weini Kelati, Viola Cheptoo, Klara Lukan and Tsigie Gebreselama.
“I am looking forward to returning to Central Park after setting a course record at the TCS New York City Marathon and winning the Mastercard New York Mini 10K last year,” Obiri said. “I am excited to take on this challenge among a competitive group of women athletes and the 10,000 women who will be inspiring and motivating each other on the course.”
Obiri’s return to New York could be another dose of her stunning performance at the NYC Half when she opened a lead at the 10K mark on Ngetich and surged to a course record 1:06:33 win. Lokedi never made it our of the chase pack while Obiri continued to push the pace despite a maintaining huge gap on the field as she roared through Times Square.
And while the Mini 10K will be mostly contained to Central Park, she will have to contend with a strong group in the women-only race over a much shorter distance than her usual half and full marathon heroics.
In the wheelchair division, Tatyana McFadden will face off against a group that includes Hannah Dederick, Linden Williamson, Michelle Wheeler, Elshorbagy, Milena Sobie, Rachel Cleaver and April Coughlin.
There will be a new champion in the wheelchair division this year since six-time winner Susannah Scaroni will not defend her title in June.
The Mini 10K dates back to 1972 when it was the first women-only road race and called the Crazylegs Mini Marathon after the miniskirt, a symbol of women’s liberation. At that event, 72 women finished the race just three weeks before the landmark Title IX federal civil rights legislagtion was signed into law, and ensured girls and women would have the right to participate in school sports.
More than 250,000 runners have participated in the Mini 10K since its creation more than 50 years ago.
Professional Open Division
Agnes Ngetich (Kenya) – 28:46 WR
Klara Lukan (Slovenia) – 29:51 NR
Hellen Obiri (Kenya) – 30:15
Tsigie Gebreselama (Ethiopia) – 30:29
Weini Kelati (USA) 30:49
Sharon Lokedi (Kenya) – 30:52
Viola Cheptoo (Kenya) – 30:55
Emma Grace Hurley (USA) – 31:00
Jessica McClain (USA) – 31:13
Amanda Vestri (USA) – 31:17
Annie Frisbie (USA) – 31:37
Bailey Hertenstein (USA) – 31:48
Annie Rodenfels (USA) – 31:54
Ednah Kurgat (USA) – 31:56
Dakotah Popehn (USA) – 31:58
Fionnuala McCormack (Ireland) – 32:08
Emily Venters (USA) – 32:11
Stephanie Bruce (USA) – 32:21
Tess Barrett (USA) – 32:27
Rachel Smith (USA) – 32:35
Mercy Chelangat (Kenya) – 32:37
WuGa He (China) – 33:06
Elena Hayday (USA) – 33:30
Sophia King (USA) – 33:50
Lisa Hart (Great Britain) – 34:05
Gabi Rooker (USA) – 34:11
Madison Offstein (USA) – 34:24
Brooke Starn (USA) – 35:14
Alexandra Conway (USA) – 35:28
Alana Levy (USA) – 35:50
Alosha Southern (USA) – 35:52
Annabel Stafford (USA) – 36:02
Stephanie Diacovo (USA) – 36:19
Anastasia Dmitrienko (USA) – 36:20
Jennifer DiMascio-Donohue (USA) – 36:42
Katarina Mayer (Canada) – 36:51
Katarina Birimac (USA) – Debut
Cailie Hughes (USA) – Debut
Amisa Murayama (Japan) – Debut
Nazuki Sasaki (Japan) – Debut
Sydney Vaught (USA) – Debut
Professional Wheelchair Division
Tatyana McFadden (USA) – 23:14
Hannah Dederick (USA) – 24:29
Linden Williamson (USA) – 25:11
Michelle Wheeler (USA) – 26:04
Hoda Elshorbagy (Egypt) – 26:09
Milena Sobie (USA) – 30:17
Rachel Cleaver (USA) – 34:44
April Coughlin (USA) – 35:37
