Obiri obliterates 22-year New York City Marathon record for second title

Multiple World 5,000m champion Hellen Obiri reclaimed her New York City Marathon title, clocking a 2:19:51 course record to break a mark set back in 2003, and leading a Kenyan podium sweep in the process.

Obiri denied 2022 champion Sharon Lokedi and defending champion Sheila Chepkirui what would have been their respective second titles on this course.

Follow our WhatsApp channel for more news

Lokedi and Chepkirui finished second and third, clocking 2:20:07 and 2:20:24 as all three went under Margaret Okayo's course mark of 2:22:31.

It took teamwork for the Kenyan trio to neutralise threats from American trials champion Fiona O'Keeffe and Olympic champion Sifan Hassan, but the race came down to the final two kilometres, with Obiri proving the better of the three for victory.

The Kenyan women, true to their biling played no games as the gun went off, moving to the front to dictate pace and go through 5km with Hellen Obiri ahead in 17:05, as American Fiona O'Keeffe hang on her shoulder with the rest of the pack barely a step behind.

Defending champion Chepkirui, the 2023 champion Obiri, and Boston Marathon champion Lokedi led a pack of 14 runners, including Olympic champion Hassan, and Kenya's Vivian Cheruiyot through 10km in 33:53.

The women picked up speed with American, O'Keeffe leading the way. The speed claimed several casualties in the ensuing kilometres, including six home runners as four women, as the leading pack hit halfway in 1:11:01.

Hassan, a few steps behind at halfway, battled her way back to the front to make it five runners at the 22km mark but she was dropped as Chepkirui yet again surged. The Olympic champion went through the quiet Queensboro Bridge on a solo run, dropping 17 seconds behind at the 25km mark. The American was also a few steps behind the leading Kenyan trio.

World Athletics issue statement after alleged fraud totaling to billions

As soon as they emerged from the bridge to the cheer of thousands of fans, O'Keeffe quickly reattached herself to the leading pack that had seemingly slowed down, with Hassan following suite moments later to make it a five-way battle at 29km.

The Kenyans continued to work together to drop the Olympic champion, and the American trials champion, as the duo struggled with the next climb just before starting their decent to Central Park, and it was game on for Chepkirui, Obiri and Lokedi who were now running side by side.

By 35km (1:56:48), the Kenyan trio had built a commanding lead of 39 seconds clear of O’Keeffe and more than a minute ahead of Hassan.

Chepkirui was the first of the three to falter, slipping behind with 2:10 on the clock. Obiri and Lokedi pressed on together until Obiri, looking composed and powerful, made her decisive move with about 2km remaining.

Obiri crossed the line in 2:19:51, smashing her PB of 2:23:10 she had set when earning Olympic bronze last year. She clocked 2:17:41 when finishing second in Boston earlier this year, though that course isn’t eligible for PBs or records.

She finished 16 seconds clear of Lokedi, while Chepkirui held firm for third, ensuring a Kenyan sweep of the podium for the second year in a row.

O’Keeffe took fourth in 2:22:49, comfortably ahead of US compatriot Frisbie (2:24:12), while Hassan, running just two months after winning the Sydney Marathon in course record time, finished sixth in 2:24:43.

Sifan Hassan weighs in on Ruth Chepng'etich's doping ban