The professional fields for the NYC Half were revealed on Tuesday, with last year’s winners Abel Kipchumba and Karoline Bjerkeli Grøvdal set to defend their titles on a slightly adjusted course.
New York Road Runners announced that the elite men and women will line up on March 16 and feature competitors from 14 countries with credentials that include national records and Olympic appearances.
In the men’s division, Kipchumba will be back to claim another title after a dominating 1:00:25 performance in 2024.
He will have his work cut out for him with Conner Mantz joining the field fresh off of stunning 59:17 in the Houston Half Marathon in January that broke and 18-year-old American record.
“I was fortunate to kick off my 2025 season with an American record in the half-marathon,” Mantz said in a statement. “Racing the United Airlines NYC Half will help me to continue that momentum during an important year of racing. Every time I race in New York, the crowds and camaraderie are unmatched, so I’m excited to have another opportunity to compete against some of the fastest and strongest athletes in the world.”
Richard Etir, Patrick Dever and Hillary Bor will also be in the mix, with personal bests that prove they can make a serious run at denying Kipchumba and Mantz a shot at the top of the podium.
Meanwhile Bjerkeli Grøvdal leads the women’s field as she looks for a second straight win in New York. Her road to victory last year came after a few close calls when she finished third in the NYC Half in 2018, 2022, and 2023. She’s poised to crossed grab another win after winning gold at the 2024 European Championships in the half marathon.
“Winning the 2024 United Airlines NYC Half was a dream come true and set the tone for the rest of my season,” Bjerkeli Grøvdal said in a statement. “This race is extremely special to me and to have the opportunity to defend my title is an incredible honor.”
A loaded women’s group will be waiting for her, with Lonah Chemtai Salpeter, Emily Sisson, Calli Hauger-Thackery, Sara Hall, Sharon Lokedi and Fiona O’Keeffe all among those vying for victory in March.
This year’s race course will be slightly altered, with 27,000 competitors now having to head over the Brooklyn Bridge because of construction on a street that exits from the Manhattan Bridge. This change is the first time any NYRR race has been run over the Brooklyn Bridge and will likely be in effect for future races.
2025 NYC Half Entry Lists
Elite men’s field
Abel Kipchumba (Kenya) – 58:07
Conner Mantz (USA) – 59:17 NR
Richard Etir (Kenya) – 59:32
Patrick Dever (Great Britain) – 1:00:11
Hillary Bor (USA) – 1:00:20
Yudai Kiyama (Japan) – 1:00:32
Wesley Kiptoo (Kenya) – 1:00:34
Biya Simbassa (USA) – 1:00:37
Reed Fischer (USA) – 1:00:54
Ben Flanagan (Canada) – 1:01:00
Alex Masai (Kenya) – 1:01:04
Jack Rowe (Great Britain) – 1:01:08
Yemane Haileselassie (Eritrea) – 1:01:34
Hibiki Murakami (Japan) – 1:01:46
Jose Mauricio Gonzalez (Colombia) – 1:02:16
Tristan Woodfine (Canada) – 1:02:40
Andrew Davies (Canada) – 1:03:05
Charlie Sweeney (USA) – 1:03:31
Connor Winter (USA) – 1:03:31
Liam Dee (Great Britain) – 1:03:43
Nick Hauger (USA) – 1:03:48
Tim McGowan (USA) – 1:03:54
Rui Yong Soh (Singapore) – 1:06:45 NR
Jordan Daniel (USA) – 1:06:48
Mohammed Ahmed (Canada) – Debut
Luke Combs (USA) – Debut
Colin Daly (USA) – Debut
Woody Kincaid (USA) – Debut
Elite women’s field
Lonah Chemtai Salpeter (Israel) – 1:06:09
Emily Sisson (USA) – 1:06:52
Karoline Bjerkeli Grøvdal (Norway) – 1:06:55
Calli Hauger-Thackery (Great Britain) – 1:06:58
Sara Hall (USA) – 1:07:15
Sharon Lokedi (Kenya) – 1:07:42
Fiona O’Keeffe (USA) – 1:07:42
Dakotah Popehn (USA) – 1:08:04
Sarah Lahti (Sweden) – 1:08:19 NR
Fabienne Schlumpf (Switzerland) – 1:08:27 NR
Emily Venters (USA) – 1:08:48
Lauren Gregory (USA) – 1:09:12
Lindsay Flanagan (USA) – 1:09:17
Allie Kieffer (USA) – 1:09:17
Diane Van Es (The Netherlands) – 1:09:31
Susanna Sullivan (USA) – 1:09:42
Emma Bates (USA) – 1:09:44
Kim Conley (USA) – 1:09:44
Stephanie Bruce (USA) – 1:09:55
Rose Harvey (Great Britain) – 1:10:02
Kellyn Taylor (USA) – 1:10:16
Desiree Linden (USA) – 1:10:34
Amy-Eloise Neale (Great Britain) – 1:11:12
Kaylee Flanagan (USA) – 1:12:53
Sara Vaughn (USA) – 1:12:56
Kathryn Fluehr (USA) – 1:14:01
Alexandra Conway (USA) – 1:15:05
Alana Levy (USA) – 1:15:46
Gabrielle Yatauro (USA) – 1:15:59
Brooke Starn (USA) – 1:16:00
Stephanie Diacovo (USA) – 1:18:27
Jennifer Donnelly (USA) – 1:18:47
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(Photo courtesy of New York Road Runners)
