Olympic men’s champion and Olympic women’s bronze medallist from Paris 2024 return to the Big Apple on Sunday aiming to win again

Twelve months ago Tamirat Tola and Hellen Obiri were crowned winners at the TCS New York City Marathon. Since then Tola has won Olympic gold and Obiri took bronze in Paris. And on Sunday (Nov 3) they return to defend their titles in New York.

Tola set a course record of 2:04:58 in New York last year, with the Ethiopian beating Geoffrey Mutai’s previous mark of 2:05:06 from 2011. Obiri, meanwhile, claimed victory in equally impressive but different circumstances, as the Kenyan drew clear of Letesenbet Gidey, Sharon Lokedi and Brigid Kosgei in an exciting battle through Central Park in the closing stages.

“I’m excited to defend my title in New York, especially coming off an Olympic-record marathon performance,” says Tola. “The hilly course and crowds in Paris definitely prepared me well for the bridges and spectators in New York, where maybe I can go even faster this year.”

Obiri adds: “There’s no place like New York, and I am so ready to defend my title on what has become one of my favourite days of the year.”

Tamirat Tola (Getty)

Tola’s rivals this weekend include Bashir Abdi, the Belgian who finished 21 seconds behind Tola in Paris and upgraded his bronze from Tokyo 2021 to silver in the French capital. What’s more, Abdi is the European record-holder with a best of 2:03:36 from Rotterdam three years ago.

Kenyan Evans Chebet, 35, is the fastest man in the field with 2:03:00 and the 2022 New York City Marathon champion is joined by 2021 winner Albert Korir, 2019 and 2017 winner Geoffrey Kamworor and this year’s NYC Half champion Abel Kipchumba.

Bashir Abdi (Getty)

It means there are four former winners in the men’s race – Tola, Chebet, Korir and Kamworor.

The US challenge will be lead by Conner Mantz and Clayton Young, who train together and who finished eighth and ninth in the Olympic marathon.

Callum Hawkins, the Brit who finished fourth in the world championship marathons in 2017 and 2019, is down to race after battling back from a series of injuries.

READ MORE: Callum Hawkins interview

In the women’s race Obiri races, among others, the 2022 champion Sharon Lokedi – fourth placer at the Olympics and a runner-up in Boston back in March.

As in the men’s race, Kenya has a number of contenders including not only Obiri and Lokedi but the 2010 champion Edna Kiplagat, four-time Olympic medallist Vivian Cheruiyot and 2:17:2 runner Sheila Chepkirui.

Hellen Obiri (Getty)

Ethiopia’s Tirunesh Dibaba, who is a triple Olympic and 16-time world medallist, makes her debut at the New York City Marathon. However, the all-time great has very little recent form and her last marathon was in 2018.

There is certainly plenty of experience in the event with Kiplagat now aged 44, Cheruiyot 41 and Dibaba 39.

Tirunesh Dibaba (Mark Shearman)

The US challenge in the women’s race will be led by Dakotah Popehn (née Lindwurm), the highest placed American at the Olympics, plus Des Linden, Aliphine Tuliamuk, Kellyn Taylor and Jenny Simpson.

Lily Partridge leads the British charge as she takes part in her third ever race over 26.2 miles, having already finished eighth and 21st at the 2018 London and 2023 Valencia marathons.

Lily Partridge (David Hewitson)

In the wheelchair races, Marcel Hug will be the favourite in the men’s field and is aiming for his seventh victory in the Big Apple.

“The TCS New York City Marathon marks the brilliant end of the year’s major marathons, and the city’s energy and the enthusiasm from the spectators are unmatched, driving me to give my all,” Hug says.

Britain’s David Weir and Johnboy Smith will be aiming for podium places, with the former showing no sign of stopping anytime soon at 45.

Eden Rainbow-Cooper will also be flying the flag in America once again and will aim to recreate her historic win at the Boston Marathon, where she became the first ever Brit to win the prestigious race.

Manuela Schär, Madison de Rozario, Tatyana McFadden and Susannah Scaroni will challenge her for the win.

The New York City Marathon is live on Discovery+ for UK viewers from 13:30-16:00 GMT.

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