Because the TCS New York Metropolis Marathon, the yr’s ultimate main marathon, approaches, it’s anticipated to host essentially the most aggressive girls’s discipline ever, comprising world champions, Olympic champions, world document holders and former NYC marathon winners. Might this be the yr that Margaret Okayo’s course document of two:22:31 (from 2003) is lastly damaged?
If what we’ve seen thus far this yr is any indication, we predict it is not going to stand previous Sunday. First there was Sifan Hassan‘s spectacular debut, successful first London (in April) after which Chicago (in October). In September, Tigist Assefa shattered the ladies’s world document in Berlin with an jaw-dropping 2:11:53.
On condition that it’s been 20 years for the reason that course document was final damaged in New York, the timing appears proper. The ladies’s elite discipline is full of expertise, together with the 2020 Tokyo Olympic marathon champion and 2021 NYC champion Peres Jepchirchir, reigning NYC champion Sharon Lokedi, 2023 Boston Marathon champion Hellen Obiri, girls’s 10,000m world document holder Letesenbet Gidey, reigning world champion Amane Beriso and the third-fastest girl in historical past and former world document holder, Brigid Kosgei. The 2023 girls’s elite race in NYC boasts the calibre of an Olympic or world marathon, with the most effective athletes competing on the most important marathon main stage.
So who’s the favorite?
Any of those six girls might win on Sunday, nevertheless it’s difficult to miss Obiri’s energy and talent. Final yr, the 33-year-old Kenyan made her marathon debut in NYC, falling in need of her objectives. She revealed struggles with fueling and an imperfect bodily situation for the race. Shortly after the 2022 World Championships, she relocated from Kenya to Boulder, Colo., becoming a member of the On Athletics Membership underneath the steerage of coach Dathan Ritzenhein.
Amid excessive expectations attributable to her profitable observe profession and quite a few world cross-country championships, Obiri completed sixth, in 2:25:49. Nonetheless, she made a exceptional comeback, clinching victory in Boston in April. When requested about taking part within the 2023 World Athletics Championships after her Boston triumph, Obiri declared her focus was on returning to NYC and successful.
Through the athlete press convention on Thursday, her coach, Ritzenhein, mentioned she’s at present in the most effective form he’s ever seen her in. Contemplating her dominant efficiency in Boston, it seems this race is hers to lose.
What about Kosgei and Gidey?
It’s been a minute since we noticed Kenya’s Kosgei and Ethiopia’s Gidey run a marathon. Kosgei hasn’t completed a marathon since March 2022, when she gained the Tokyo Marathon. She was one of many favourites heading into London this yr (a race she has gained twice) however ended up with a DNF. Kosgei held the ladies’s world document till Assefa broke her mark of two:14:04 in Berlin in September. We all know Kosgei is quick, however she hasn’t raced since April, and New York’s sluggish and hilly course might be a problem for her return.
Gidey involves New York with one marathon on her resume. After a world-record-setting profession on the observe, Gidey made her extremely awaited debut on the distance final yr in Valencia–one of many quickest marathon programs on the planet. Everybody anticipated Gidey to obliterate Kosgei’s world document, and she or he didn’t have a nasty debut. Nonetheless, she was humbled by the gap, ending second to her compatriot, Beriso, with a time of two:16:49–a document, on the time for the fastest-ever girls’s marathon debut.
Gidey has had an up-and-down 2023 season, by her personal requirements. She gained silver within the girls’s 10,000m at Worlds and ran sub 14:10 over 5,000m twice, holding the fourth, fifth and sixth quickest girls’s 5,000m instances in historical past. Gidey possesses observe velocity, and if this have been a half-marathon on Sunday, her 10,000m world document and three world cross titles would serve her properly on this undulating course. Nonetheless, in a marathon, relying solely on observe velocity has its limitations. If the 25-year-old can exhibit the stamina wanted for 42.2 km, she may find yourself being the shock winner. Racing in opposition to Obiri, Gidey beforehand bested her for gold within the 10,000m on the 2019 World Athletics Championships in Doha; if the race begins quick, might she outperform Obiri as soon as once more?
The previous champions
It’s been seven years for the reason that NYC marathon final noticed a repeat champion, with Kenya’s Mary Keitany (2015 and 2016), however can final yr’s champ, Lokedi, be part of that unique membership? Final yr, Lokedi gained the marathon in her debut, which marked the first-ever marathon main win for an Underneath Armour-sponsored athlete. However since her historic triumph, issues have been rocky for Lokedi, who needed to withdraw from the Boston Marathon attributable to a foot damage that took her out for almost all of the season. She says she is again, and desires to defend her NYC title. One factor Lokedi has in her favour as defending champion is confidence. She is aware of the course, which provides her a strategic benefit.
One other former NYC champion making a return to New York is the reigning Olympic champion, Jepchirchir. Tactically, Jepchirchir is perhaps probably the greatest racers within the discipline, a trait she showcased when she triumphed right here in 2021 and went on to win the Boston Marathon 5 months later. She has gained 5 of her final six marathons, and if the tempo units out conservatively on Sunday, it would doubtless favour extra tactical-style racers like her and Obiri. However there are issues, since Jepchirchir is getting back from an damage and isn’t sure she’s going to begin on Sunday. Throughout Thursday’s elite press convention, she talked about re-aggravating her calf damage simply earlier than she travelled to New York final week. She’ll make the choice after her ultimate shakeout run on Saturday.
A darkish horse
Many who’re following the race can have their eyes on Obiri, Gidey or Jepchirchir. Nonetheless, when you’re looking for a shock in NYC, it’s more likely to come from Ethiopia’s Beriso. Since her victory within the 2022 Mexico Metropolis Marathon in August final yr, Beriso has been in unimaginable kind, reaching a formidable 2:14:58 win in Valencia–the fifth-fastest time in historical past. She was additionally the runner-up to Obiri in Boston and secured her first world championship title on the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest in August. Beriso’s latest success suggests she’s in exceptional kind, and it wouldn’t be stunning to see her atop the rostrum once more, which might be a storybook ending to her yr.
The best way to watch
The 2023 TCS New York Metropolis Marathon will likely be aired in Canada on TSN, with protection starting at 8:00 a.m. ET Sunday. You too can stream the occasion dwell on-line through the TSN app or through TSN.ca/dwell.
All of the motion for the 2023 TCS New York Metropolis Marathon will likely be dropped at you by Canadian Working and New Steadiness. Comply with us on Twitter on Instagram for in-depth protection, live-tweeting and up-to-date unique information and content material.
