Pocket Rocket versus Baby Faced Destroyer showdown looms in New York

Olympic champion Tamirat Tola and two-time world 5000m champion Hellen Obiri will defend their titles at the TCS New York City Marathon, up against strong opposition on Sunday 3 November. 

With a loaded field that has six women who have dipped under 2:20, a special story could unfold as the second and third quickest runners on the elite list, Tirunesh Dibaba, the baby faced destroyer and Vivian Cheruiyot, aka pocket rocket clash. 

On Cheruiyot's debut in a World Marathon Major, at the London Marathon back in 2018, who best to go up against than her track rival Dibaba who was out to break the then women’s world record of 2:15:25 alongside Mary Keitany. 

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Pocket Rocket, however, ran a spectacularly calculated race choosing not to go with the leading pack who, eventually, paid for their initial speed, the Ethiopian dropping out while Keitany finished fifth. She won the race in 2:18:31.

Cheruiyot, a multiple world champion on the track, finished third at the Paris Marathon earlier this year in 2:21:46, her first completed marathon in almost five years. 

Dibaba, on her part, will make her New York City Marathon debut and is one of the world’s most accomplished long-distance runners as a three-time Olympic and 16-time world champion. She has completed four marathons to date, her last one being in 2018, but has finished on the podium every time. 

With her London Marathon winning time making Cheruiyot the third quickest on the elite list, the 41-year-old will be keen to match or improve on her runner-up finish in New York from 2018.

The Kenyan delegation also includes Sharon Lokedi, the 2022 NYC Marathon winner, who returns after finishing third last year and fourth in the Olympic marathon in Paris.

2010 champion Edna Kiplagat, four-time Olympian Sheila Chepkirui are also in the mix. Kiplagat, now aged 44, is still highly competitive on the international road running circuit. Earlier this year she set a half marathon PB of 1:07:52 in Houston, then finished third at the Boston Marathon in 2:23:21.

Chepkirui is the fastest entrant based on PBs. She clocked a best of 2:17:29 on her marathon debut in Valencia two years ago, and has finished inside 2:20 in all three of her marathons since then, her most recent being a 2:19:31 clocking in London in April.

Women’s Elite Field

Sheila Chepkirui (KEN) 2:17:29

Tirunesh Dibaba (ETH) 2:17:56

Vivian Cheruiyot (KEN) 2:18:31

Senbere Teferi (ETH) 2:19:21

Dera Dida (ETH) 2:19:24

Edna Kiplagat (KEN) 2:19:50

Eunice Chumba (BRN) 2:20:02

Sharon Lokedi (KEN) 2:22:45

Hellen Obiri (KEN) 2:23:10

Sara Vaughn (USA) 2:23:24

Kellyn Taylor (USA) 2:24:29

Fabienne Schlumpf (SUI) 2:24:30

Aliphine Tuliamuk (USA) 2:24:37

Dakotah Popehn (USA) 2:24:40

Lily Partridge (GBR) 2:25:12

Jessica McClain (USA) 2:25:46

Des Linden (USA) 2:25:55

Tristin Colley (USA) 2:25:58

Khishigasaikhan Galbadrakh (MGL) 2:26:32

Maggie Montoya (USA) 2:28:07

Katja Goldring (USA) 2:29:01

Savannah Berry (USA) 2:29:13