Jepchirchir turns focus to Paris after New York marathon withdrawal

This year’s women’s New York Marathon had promised to be a battle of the titans as defending champion Sharon Lokedi takes on a star-stacked field that had Letesenbet Gidey, Peres Jepchirchir, Brigid Kosgei, and Hellen Obiri among others.

Olympic champion, Jepchirchir was, however, forced to withdraw at the advice of her team despite having already travelled to New York for the showdown.

“I traveled to New York with the hopes that it would improve, but after two days of physical therapy, we have made the decision that I should not start the race,” she made the announcement on her social media platforms.

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While her absence does not completely water down the race that is scheduled to start a 3 p.m. EAT, the dynamics change leaving the Kenyan charge to retain the title on the defending champion, former world record holder Kosgei and Obiri.

Jepchirchir’s most recent marathon victory was achieved in 2022 when she won in Boston in April. She finished third in London a year later and most recently retained her world half marathon title in Riga.

She ran 2:17:16 in Valencia in 2020, and also won the Great North Run half marathon in September and was expected to be in good form until, in a pre-race press conference she explained how she experienced a calf issue during training last weekend and would wait until the eve of the race to decide whether she will line up.

With her exit, the 30-year-old has her eyes firmly set on defending her Olympic title. “I still hope to defend my Olympic title in Paris next year and do not want to do anything that might put that in jeopardy,” she said explaining her withdrawal.

Kenya’s Lokedi won when making her marathon debut in New York last year, pulling away in the final two miles to triumph in 2:23:23. She returns to defend her title but given the strength of her opposition, it will be far from a walk in the park.

“Last year, I came into the TCS New York City Marathon with the goal of being in the thick of the race, and the result was better than I could have ever hoped for,” Lokedi said when being announced for the race. “This year, I’m returning with a different mindset, hungry to defend my title and race against the fastest women in the world.”

Meanwhile, after marathon wins in Chicago, London, and Tokyo, Kenya’s Kosgei makes her debut in New York.

The 2:14:04 she ran in Chicago in 2019 remained the world record until Tigist Assefa clocked 2:11:53 in Berlin in September and now Kosgei sits third on the world all-time list after Sifan Hassan improved to 2:13:44 in Chicago last month.

Ready to embrace the hills of New York, Kosgei returns to marathon action for the first time since April, when she dropped out of London. Prior to that, she won the Tokyo title in a course record of 2:16:02 in March 2022.

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Leading entries

Women

Brigid Kosgei (KEN) 2:14:04

Letesenbet Gidey (ETH) 2:16:49

Edna Kiplagat (KEN) 2:19:50

Mary Ngugi-Cooper (KEN) 2:20:22

Hellen Obiri (KEN) 2:21:38

Viola Cheptoo (KEN) 2:22:44

Sharon Lokedi (KEN) 2:23:23

Kellyn Taylor (USA) 2:24:29

Fantu Jifar (ETH) 2:25:45

Molly Huddle (USA) 2:26:33

Solange Jesus (POR) 2:28:15

Sydney Devore (USA) 2:31:08

Marie-Ange Brumelot (FRA) 2:33:19

Meriah Earle (USA) 2:34:19