Obiri wins Mini 10-K in New York
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Reading Time: 2min | Sun. 08.06.25. | 13:25
Compatriot Sharon Lokedi, fresh off winning the Boston Marathon,settled for fifth place
The only woman to have won world titles in indoor track, outdoor track, and cross country, Hellen Obiri, was in action on Sunday, 8 June, adding yet another big victory to her resume at the Mastercard New York Mini 10-K.
A Boston and New York City Marathon champion, the 35-year-old prevailed in a late-race duel with USA half-marathon record holder Weini Kelati, clocking 30:44 as the latter settled for 30:49, a USA road record.
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Obiri covered the up-and-down back half of the race in a blistering 15:09, going on to pocket Ksh1.2 million ($10,000) in prize money.
“First of all, I am so happy to win this race because the elite field was strong,” Obiri told reporters. “Also, coming after the Boston Marathon and Manchester 10K, I felt like, let me try to give my best. For the last two weeks, I have been working on my speed.”
Obiri stayed tucked in the lead pack of eight, which broke away in the second mile. Amanda Vestri, who was the top American at this race last year when she finished fourth, set the early pace as the duo was joined by Kenyans Sharon Lokedi and Grace Loibach, Gotytom Gebreslase of Ethiopia, Taylor Roe, and Emma Grace Hurley.
“At first, the race was kind of slow,” Kelati told Race Results Weekly. “The race kind of got stronger and stronger, and at some point, Hellen came up next to me. She’s a strong runner.”
Kelati split the fourth mile in 4:55, and that was fast enough to drop Vestri and Loibach, who finished sixth and seventh in 31:20 and 31:34, respectively. That left five women –Obiri, Kelati, Gebreslase, Roe, and Lokedi– to battle for the win.
Moments later, Obiri made her big move. Roe, the American 10-K record holder with a 30:56 personal best, immediately reacted along with Kelati.
“I mean, that was going to be the move that broke open the race, and it is either you hopped on the train and you’re in it, or if you don’t hop on it, you’re going the wrong direction,” Roe told reporters.
Roe did her best to stay in contact with Kelati and Obiri, but the former Oklahoma State star eventually fell back and was passed by Gebreslase, who took third in 30:54 to Roe’s 30:58.
Up ahead, Kelati and Obiri continued their battle for the win. With 26:30 showing on the clock, Kelati went in front with Obiri right on her heels. But moments later, on the course’s final downhill, Obiri opened up her stride and surged ahead of Kelati.
“She is a tough runner,” Kelati said of Obiri. “I was like, no matter what, I have to follow her. I know she has a great finish. I just had to push myself today.”
