Defending TCS New York Metropolis Marathon champion Sharon Lokedi, reigning Boston Marathon and United Airways NYC Half champion Hellen Obiri, Olympic gold medallist and 2021 TCS New York Metropolis Marathon champion Peres Jepchirchir, and marathon world-record holder Brigid Kosgei will headline the ladies’s elite discipline on the 2023 TCS New York Metropolis Marathon on Nov.5.
When the 4 Kenyans line up in New York, it will likely be the primary time in occasion historical past that the reigning New York Metropolis Marathon champion, Boston Marathon champion, Olympic champion, and world-record holder line up towards one another.
Lokedi gained the TCS New York Metropolis Marathon in her marathon debut final yr, pulling away within the closing few kilometres to complete in 2:23:23. In preparation for the marathon, Lokedi had raced the New York Metropolis Half Marathon and the New York Mini 10K, ending fourth and second, respectively, in these races.
“Final yr, I got here into the TCS New York Metropolis Marathon with the objective of being within the thick of the race, and the end result was higher than I may have ever hoped for,” Lokedi mentioned. “This yr, I’m returning with a special mindset, hungry to defend my title and race towards the quickest girls on this planet.”
Obiri is a two-time Olympic medallist and seven-time world championships particular person medallist who earlier this yr gained the Boston Marathon in her second-ever try on the distance, along with profitable the NYC Half in her occasion debut. Obiri holds the Kenyan document for 3,000 metres and represented Kenya on the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Olympics, incomes silver medals within the 5,000 metres at each. In her marathon debut final yr in New York, she completed sixth.
“With a yr of marathon expertise now beneath my belt, a win in Boston, and my transfer to the U.S., I’m coming to New York this yr with extra confidence and in the hunt for a title,” Obiri mentioned. “I’m excited to point out the individuals of New York what I’m able to and that my win on the United Airways NYC Half in March was only the start.”
Jepchirchir is the one athlete to have gained the Olympic marathon, New York Metropolis Marathon and Boston Marathon. She can also be a two-time world championship gold medallist within the half marathon. In 2021, she gained the Tokyo Olympic marathon to assert Kenya’s second consecutive gold medal within the occasion. 4 months later, she gained the TCS New York Metropolis Marathon, ending in 2:22:39, the third-fastest time in occasion historical past and eight seconds off the occasion document. In April 2022, in a back-and-forth race that got here right down to the ultimate mile, she fended off Ethiopian Ababel Yeshaneh to take the Boston Marathon title on Boylston Avenue in her debut within the race in 2:21:02. This April, she recorded one other podium end, taking third on the TCS London Marathon.
“I used to be so disenchanted that I couldn’t defend my title in New York final yr as a result of an damage, and profitable once more in Central Park has been my primary motivation as I start my preparations for the autumn,” Jepchirchir mentioned. “New York is a crucial step in defending my Olympic gold medal subsequent summer season in Paris, and I’ll do my finest to make my household and my nation proud.”
Kosgei is the world-record holder within the marathon and has gained an Olympic silver medal and 5 Abbott World Marathon Majors races; she’s going to now make her TCS New York Metropolis Marathon debut. In 2019, Kosgei broke Paula Radcliffe’s 16-year-old world document by 81 seconds, working 2:14:04 to win the Chicago Marathon. It was her second Chicago Marathon victory, as she’d additionally gained in 2018. Moreover, she gained back-to-back London Marathons in 2019 and 2020, the Tokyo Marathon in 2022 and the silver medal on the Tokyo Olympic marathon.
“I’m very excited to make my New York Metropolis debut this fall, and try and win my fourth completely different Main,” Kosgei mentioned. “I’m not fearful in regards to the course, as I’ve had success in hilly marathons earlier than, however New York has at all times been about head-to-head competitors, and I do know I have to be in the absolute best form to compete with the opposite girls within the race.”
