Preview: Olympic Champions Kipchoge and Hassan Headline the TCS New York City Marathon
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Olympic champions Eliud Kipchoge and Sifan Hassan, defending titleholders Abdi Nageeye and Sheila Chepkirui, and three-time World Marathon Major winner Hellen Obiri will headline a star-studded elite line-up at the TCS New York City Marathon.
Men’s Elite Field
Kipchoge, the greatest marathoner in history, will face a formidable field featuring last year’s champion Abdi Nageeye, former New York winner Albert Korir (2:06:49), multiple world and Olympic gold medallist Kenenisa Bekele, 2024 Olympic bronze medallist Benson Kipruto (PB 2:02:16), and 2024 London Marathon champion Alexander Mutiso Munyao (PB 2:03:11).
An 11-time World Marathon Major champion, Kipchoge famously claimed back-to-back Olympic marathon golds in Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2021, becoming only the third man ever to do so. He has triumphed five times in Berlin (2015, 2017, 2018, 2022, 2023), four times in London (2015, 2016, 2018, 2019), and once each in Chicago (2014) and Tokyo (2022), setting two world records—2:01:39 in Berlin (2018) and 2:01:09 in Berlin (2022).
New York marks the first time in Kipchoge’s career that he will contest three marathons in a single calendar year. The Kenyan legend has started 23 marathons, winning 15. In 2024, he finished sixth in London (2:05:25) and ninth in Sydney (2:08:31). A finish in New York will earn him the coveted World Marathon Majors Six Star Medal, completing victories in Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago, and New York.
Eliud Kipchoge: “Running the TCS New York City Marathon has been a long-standing goal of mine. I look forward to the city’s energy, its passionate running community, and the challenge of the iconic course. I still feel the pressure and tension—that shows I’m ready. I hope to finish in a good way and leave my footprints in New York.”
Abdi Nageeye, the 2021 Olympic silver medallist, returns as defending champion after his 2:07:39 win last year. The Dutch runner of Somali origin set a national record of 2:04:20 for fourth place in London. Albert Korir seeks a fourth podium in New York after winning in 2021 and finishing runner-up in 2019 and 2023.
Kenenisa Bekele returns four years after finishing sixth in 2021. The Ethiopian legend owns three Olympic golds, five world titles, and a PB of 2:01:41 from Berlin 2019—the third-fastest time in history. Now 43, he set a world masters 40+ record (2:04:15) in London 2024 and renews his storied rivalry with Kipchoge (who leads 4–1 head-to-head).
Tanzania’s Alphonce Simbu, 2024 world champion, will line up after a stellar season that includes second place in Boston (2:05:04) and gold at the Tokyo World Championships. London winner Alexander Mutiso (2:04:01) and Olympic bronze medallist Benson Kipruto, a three-time Major champion (Boston 2021, Chicago 2022, Tokyo 2024), further deepen the field.
The top U.S. contender is Abbabiya Simbassa, who ran a lifetime best of 2:06:53 in Valencia last year.
Women’s Elite Field
Olympic champion Sifan Hassan leads an equally stacked women’s line-up as she chases her fifth win in just seven marathon starts. Hassan made history in Paris 2024, winning the Olympic marathon in a record 2:22:56 just days after earning two bronze medals in the 5,000m and 10,000m. The Dutch superstar—who previously won Olympic golds in both the 5,000m and 10,000m in Tokyo—now targets her third World Marathon Major victory following triumphs in London (2:18:33) and Chicago (European record 2:13:44).
She faces three Kenyan champions who have dominated recent editions: Sharon Lokedi (2022), Hellen Obiri (2023), and Sheila Chepkirui (2024). The field also features 2022 world champion Gotytom Gebrselase, Olympic 5000m gold medallist Vivian Cheruiyot, U.S. record holder Emily Sisson, and world championship fourth-placer Susanna Sullivan.
Sharon Lokedi stunned on her debut in 2022 with victory in 2:23:23 and added a second Major title in Boston 2024, where she ran a course record of 2:17:22.
Hellen Obiri owns Boston (2:21:38) and New York (2:27:23) titles from 2023 and added Olympic bronze in Paris. The two-time world 5000m champion also clocked 2:22:37 for third in Boston 2024.
Sheila Chepkirui defends her title after winning in 2024 (2:24:35). The versatile Kenyan, who owns a PB of 2:17:35, was runner-up in Berlin 2023 (2:17:49) and ran 2:20:40 in Nagoya earlier this year.
Gotytom Gebrselase (Ethiopia) brings a world title from Eugene 2022 (2:18:11) and a Berlin Major win from 2021. She has been consistently top-five in Majors, including third in New York 2022 (2:23:39).
Veteran Vivian Cheruiyot, now 42, continues to defy age. The Rio 2016 Olympic 5000m champion and four-time world gold medallist won London 2018 (2:18:31 PB) and finished second in New York in 2019.
The American contingent is strong:
Emily Sisson (U.S. record 2:18:29, Chicago 2022) makes her New York debut.
Molly Seidel, Tokyo 2021 Olympic bronze medallist, returns to the site of her fourth-place 2:24:42 run in 2021 and has announced plans to move toward ultramarathons.
Susanna Sullivan, fourth at the 2024 World Championships, arrives in fine form after setting a PB of 2:21:56 in Chicago.
The 2025 TCS New York City Marathon promises to be one of the most anticipated races in recent history, uniting Olympic champions, world record holders, and emerging stars on one of the sport’s most iconic courses.
