NAIROBI, Kenya, November 3 – It was an unforgettable day for Sheila Chepkirui as she stormed to victory in the women’s race at the New York Marathon on Sunday.
The Commonwealth Games 10,000m bronze medalist clocked 2:24:35, ahead of Hellen Obiri – the immediate former defending champion – who timed 2:24:49 in second.
Vivian Cheruiyot, the 2016 Olympics 5000m champion, rolled back the years with a third-place finish, clocking 2:25:21.
The win was a perfect way for Chepkirui to bounce back from the disappointment of the London Marathon in April, where she finished sixth after clocking 2:19:31.
The trio had done well to shake off an elite leading pack after 33km, narrowing down to a Kenyan affair.
However, Cheruiyot dropped off into third as it boiled down to Chepkirui-Obiri battle for top honour.
The 33-year-old did just about enough to hold off the two-time World and Olympic 5000m silver medalist and collect her first ever win in a World Marathon Majors race.
Chebet, Korir make Kenya proud
The men’s race was equally nail-biting, culminating in two Kenyans making the podium.
Evans Chebet – the 2022 New York champion – had to be content with second after clocking 2:07:45 in a tight race to the finish line.
His compatriot Albert Korir – who won the same race in 2021 – came third in 2:08:00.
Belgian Abdi Nageeye took top honour after clocking 2:07:39, having just done enough to outsprint Chebet to the finish line.
It was the first win in New York for the Somali-born who clocked 2:10:21 to finish fifth in last year’s edition of the same race.
