For Hellen Obiri, Sunday’s NYC Half gameplan would not come down to her and two or possibly three other competitors — it would be more about a statement.
And by the 10k mark, Obiri was locked in on dominating as she roared to a 1:06:33 course record win after surging at the halfway point and opened a huge lead on Agnes Ngetich, who had no counter for her drastic move.
The women’s race was billed as another showdown between Obiri and Sharon Lokedi, who was not part of the lead group as the course worked towards Times Square, but Lokedi battled back and finished second in 1:07:10. Megan Keith took third in 1:07:13.
“In a race like this I told myself just to be patient and run my own race because I knew the others were so strong and moving so fast,” Obiri said. “Then I said, ‘I trained for this. I’m good.'”
In the men’s race, Adriaan Wildschutt emerged as a bit of a surprise winner, with a late move as the race entered Central Park that was the deciding factor as he crossed the line in 59:30.
Wildschutt was part of a large group that appeared to work together with no one ready to attempt to break away as the pack crossed the 10k mark at 27:58.
Still, Wildschutt found his moment as the lead pack began to loosen through the 15k point at 42:25 and the South African record holder at 5k and 10k began his surge and held off Zouhair Talbi, who was second in 59:41 while Gulveer Singh followed in third at 59:42.
“I was just trying to conserve as much energy as possible — really run smart,” Wildschutt said. “One thing I really learned from the track was just to be technically astute and wait for your time.”
Last year’s winner Abel Kipchumba, who was seeking a third straight win in New York, did not finish the race.
Meanwhile, Grant Fisher staged a solid half marathon debut and was part of a large men’s pack that held steady through eight miles. Fisher finished 14th in 1:00:53. But after the race he gave an honest assessment of his performance out on the course.
“I wanted something better out of myself today,” Fisher said. “Those last few miles, it was a fight. The wheels came off and when that happens, it’s like you can push as hard as you can but it’s tough to really get any response out of your legs.”
In the wheelchair races, Eden Rainbow-Cooper won the women’s division for her first NYC Half title in 54:27, the largest margin of victory in event history. Tatyana McFadden was second in 1:00:21 while Shauna Bocquet took third in 1:02:59.
Daniel Romanchuk won his third men’s wheelchair division in 48:10 over Evan Correll, who took second in 50:22 as Geert Schipper finished third in 50:26.
Women’s elite finishers
1. Hellen Obiri (Kenya) – 1:06:33
2. Sharon Lokedi (Kenya) – 1:07:10
3. Megan Keith (Great Britain) – 1:07:13
4. Diane Van Es (Netherlands) – 1:08:21
5. Fentaye Belayneh (Ethiopia) – 1:08:22
6. Emily Sisson (USA) – 1:09:06
7. Amanda Vestri (USA) – 1:09:22
8. Annie Frisbie (USA) – 1:09:25
9. Susanna Sullivan (USA) – 1:09:38
10. Emily Venters (USA) – 1:09:46
11. Konstanze Klosterhalfen (Germany) – 1:10:04
12. Dakotah Popehn (USA) – 1:10:06
13. Agnes Ngetich (Kenya) – 1:10:25
14. Lauren Gregory (USA) – 1:11:12
15. Elena Hayday (USA) – 1:11:21
16. Felicia Pasadyn (USA) – 1:11:59
17. Calli Hauger-Thackery (Great Britain) – 1:13:16
18. Stephanie Bruce (USA) – 1:13:23
19. Lindsay Flanagan (USA) – 1:14:02
20. Emily Durgin (USA) – 1:14:45
Men’s elite finishers
1. Adriaan Wildschutt (South Africa) – 59:30
2. Zouhair Talbi (USA) – 59:41
3. Gulveer Singh (India) – 59:42
4. Alex Maier (USA) – 59:51
5. Peter Lynch (Ireland) – 59:52
6. Patrick Dever (Great Britain) – 59:56
7. Rory Linkletter (Canada) – 1:00:00
8. Patrick Kiprop (Kenya) – 1:00:01
9. Joe Klecker (USA) – 1:00:02
10. Shunsuke Kuwata (Japan) – 1:00:13
11. Jack Rowe (Great Britain) – 1:00:17
12. Ryan Ford (USA) – 1:00:22
13. Daniel Ebenyo (Kenya) – 1:00:50
14. Grant Fisher (USA) – 1:00:53
15. Camren Todd (USA) – 1:02:06
16. Alex Masai (Kenya) – 1:02:09
17. Tsegay Tuemay Weldlibanos (Eritrea) – 1:02:14
18. Joel Reichow (USA) – 1:02:14
19. Kieran Tuntivate (Thailand) – 1:02:39
20. Sondre Nordstad Moen (Norway) – 1:02:41
Women’s elite wheelchair
1. Eden Rainbow-Cooper (Great Britain) – 54:27
2. Tatyana McFadden (USA) – 1:00:21
3. Shauna Bocquet (Ireland) – 1:02:59
4. Hoda Elshorbagy (Egypt) – 1:05:54
5. Linden Williamson (USA) – 1:10:48
6. Michelle Wheeler (USA) – 1:16:47
7. Hannah Dederick (USA) – 1:25:18
Men’s elite wheelchair
1. Daniel Romanchuk (USA) – 48:10
2. Evan Correll (USA) – 50:22
3. Geert Schipper (Netherlands) – 50:26
4. Miguel Jimenez-Vergara (USA) – 50:43
5. Johnboy Smith (Great Britain) – 53:51
6. Jason Robinson (USA) – 57:14
7. Jeyna Senbeta (USA) – 57:23
8. Hermin Garic (USA) – 59:50
