Boston Marathon mini-sequel to take place in New York this weekend

Kenya’s double-Olympic silver medalist Hellen Obiri will renew her rivalry with compatriot Sharon Lokedi as the pair battle for the Mastercard New York Mini 10K marathon crown on Sunday, 7 June.

Obiri, 35, is the headline in a deep field that includes 17 Olympians and Paralympians in total, and will be most importantly looking to avenge her 2025 Boston Marathon defeat to Lokedi, who spoiled her quest for a three-peat in April.

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The two-time world 5,000m champion watched on as Lokedi stormed to a personal best of 2:17:22 in the race, with Obiri coming second in her own personal best time of 2:17:41.

Since then, Obiri, who holds the course record in New York, ran at the Great Manchester Run, where she finished fourth in a time of 31:16.

Speaking after her confirmation for Sunday’s race for the third time in her career, Lokedi said: “New York City has been a special place for me ever since I won the 2022 TCS New York City Marathon in my debut.

I’m excited to be back competing in Central Park after winning my first United Airlines NYC Half in March and the Boston Marathon to continue the momentum.”

Sharon Lokedi's last kick earns her a record, halting Hellen Obiri's dominance

The duel will come as the latest between the two Kenyans, who have exchanged blows over the past two years.

At the Paris Olympics last year, Obiri got the better of Lokedi to claim bronze, building on her head-to-head wins over the 31-year-old as seen in Boston 2024 and the New York City Marathon a year earlier.

It has been a positive start to the year for Lokedi, however, as in addition to winning the Boston Marathon crown, she also won the New York Half Marathon in March.

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Joining the Kenyan charge in Manhattan will be Viola Cheptoo and Grace Nawowuna, with the American field led by American marathon record holder Emily Sisson, and the top American finisher at the Paris 2024 Olympic Marathon, Dakotah Popehn.

New York Road Runners started the Mini 10K in 1972 as the first women-only road race, known then as the Crazylegs Mini Marathon for the miniskirt, a symbol of women’s liberation.

Seventy-two women finished the first race, and three weeks later, Title IX was signed into law, guaranteeing girls and women the right to participate in school sports and creating new opportunities for generations of female athletes.

Since the first edition, the race has garnered nearly 250,000 total finishers, with 10,000 runners expected for this year’s race, alongside 1,000 youth in the accompanying Rising New York Road Runners’ Girls Run.