Now that the Olympics are over, Tamirat Tola and Hellen Obiri are locked in on defending their New York City Marathon titles in November.
Both runners lead a stacked lineup of elite runners who will headline running’s biggest event despite a shorter than planned training block due to the Paris Games in August.
“I’m excited to defend my title in New York, especially coming off an Olympic-record marathon performance,” Tola said. “The hilly course and crowds in Paris definitely prepared me well for the bridges and spectators in New York, where maybe I can go even faster this year.”
Tola struck gold on the streets of Paris in 2:06.26 and broke the Olympic men’s marathon record. Two time defending champion Eliud Kipchoge was not a factor in the race and dropped out near the 31km mark. Tola also broke the course record in New York last year.
Peres Jepchirchir is the only runner to win an Olympic gold and New York City Marathon in the same year — which Tola is set on clinching.
He will be joined by Evans Chebet, Gabriel Geay, Bashir Abdi (Belgium) and Geoffrey Kamworor as part of a loaded group that will run the five boroughs in the final marathon of the year. Conner Mantz and Clayton Young both competed in Paris are the top American men.
Meanwhile, Obiri looks to repeat her 2023 success with another win in New York. She took bronze in Paris in a stunning showdown with Sifan Hassan in the women’s marathon as both runners made contact in the closing moments of the race. Obiri nearly nudged Hassan into a barrier along the course and was unable to match Hassan’s final kick to the finish line.
“There’s no place like New York, and I am so ready to defend my title on what has become one of my favorite days of the year,” Obiri said. “I have been racing very well on the roads in the U.S., and I hope I can have another good day that sees me in contention once we enter the final stages in Central Park.”
Obiri will line up alongside Sheila Chepkirui, Tirunesh Dibaba, Vivian Cheruiyot and Senbere Teferi in a field that also has seven sub-2:20 runners. Des Linden, Aliphine Tuliamuk and Jenny Simpson lead the charge for the American women in the group.
Geoffrey Mutai is the last man to win the New York City Marathon back to back (2011 and 2013). The race was canceled in 2012 due to Hurricane Sandy. Obiri will try to be the first woman to repeat since Mary Keitany won three in a row (2014-16).
Here’s a look at the full elite fields for the 2024 New York City Marathon:
Men
Evans Chebet (Kenya) 2:03:00
Gabriel Geay (Tanzania) 2:03:00
Bashir Abdi (Belgium) 2:03:36
Tamirat Tola (Ethiopia) 2:03:39
Geoffrey Kamworor (Kenya) 2:04:23
Abdi Nageeye (Netherlands) 2:04:45
Addisu Gobena (Ethiopia) 2:05:01
Abel Kipchumba (Kenya) 2:06:49
Albert Korir (Kenya) 2:06:57
Conner Mantz (USA) 2:07:47
Clayton Young (USA) 2:08:00
Rory Linkletter (Canada) 2:08:01
Callum Hawkins (Great Britain) 2:08:14
Ser-Od Bat-Ochir (Mongolia) 2:08:50
Elkanah Kibet (USA) 2:09:07
Noah Droddy (USA) 2:09:09
Jonny Mellor (Great Britain) 2:09:09
Jared Ward (USA) 2:09:25
Colin Bennie (USA) 2:09:38
Futsum Zienasellassie (USA) 2:09:40
CJ Albertson (USA) 2:09:53
Nico Montanez (USA) 2:09:55
Yuma Morii (Japan) 2:09:59
Jake Riley (USA) 2:10:02
Teshome Mekonen (USA) 2:10:16
Wesley Kiptoo (Kenya) 2:10:28
Joel Reichow (USA) 2:10:37
Josh Izewski (USA) 2:11:09
Frank Lara (USA) 2:11:32
Luke Cadwell (Great Britain) 2:11:33
Harbert Okuti (Uganda) 2:13:01
Jonny Phillips (USA) 2:14:11
Ryan Eiler (USA) 2:14:22
Ryan Ford (USA) Debut
Women
Sheila Chepkirui (Kenya) 2:17:29
Tirunesh Dibaba (Ethiopia) 2:17:56
Vivian Cheruiyot (Kenya) 2:18:31
Senbere Teferi (Ethiopia) 2:19:21
Dera Dida (Ethiopia) 2:19:24
Edna Kiplagat (Kenya) 2:19:50
Eunice Chumba (Bahrain) 2:20:02
Hellen Obiri (Kenya) 2:21:38
Des Linden (USA) 2:22:38
Sharon Lokedi (Kenya)
Fatima Gardadi (Morocco) 2:24:12
Kellyn Taylor (USA) 2:24:29
Fabienne Schlumpf (Switzerland) 2:24:30
Aliphine Tuliamuk (USA) 2:24:37
Dakotah Lindwurm (USA) 2:24:40
Lily Partridge (Great Britain) 2:25:12
Jessica McClain (USA) 2:25:46
Tristin Van Ord (USA) 2:25:58
Khishigasaikhan Galbadrakh (Mongolia) 2:26:32
Maggie Montoya (USA) 2:28:07
Katja Goldring (USA) 2:29:01
Savannah Berry (USA) 2:29:13
Jessa Hanson (USA) 2:31:02
Beverly Ramos (Puerto Rico) 2:31:10
Jenny Simpson (USA) 2:31:39
Carrie Ellwood (USA) 2:31:54
Sarah Reiter (USA) 2:31:58
Briana Boehmer (USA) 2:33:20
Lucy Dobbs (USA) 2:36:33
Holly Clarke (USA) 2:36:52
Aileen Barry (USA) 2:39:48
Ana Johnson (USA) 2:41:16
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