Because the TCS New York Metropolis Marathon, the yr’s remaining main marathon, approaches, it’s anticipated to host probably the most aggressive girls’s area ever, comprising world champions, Olympic champions, world report holders and former NYC marathon winners. May this be the yr that Margaret Okayo’s course report of two:22:31 (from 2003) is lastly damaged?
If what we’ve seen thus far this yr is any indication, we predict it is not going to stand previous Sunday. First there was Sifan Hassan‘s spectacular debut, successful first London (in April) after which Chicago (in October). In September, Tigist Assefa shattered the ladies’s world report in Berlin with an jaw-dropping 2:11:53.
On condition that it’s been 20 years for the reason that course report was final damaged in New York, the timing appears proper. The ladies’s elite area is full of expertise, together with the 2020 Tokyo Olympic marathon champion and 2021 NYC champion Peres Jepchirchir, reigning NYC champion Sharon Lokedi, 2023 Boston Marathon champion Hellen Obiri, girls’s 10,000m world report holder Letesenbet Gidey, reigning world champion Amane Beriso and the third-fastest girl in historical past and former world report holder, Brigid Kosgei. The 2023 girls’s elite race in NYC boasts the calibre of an Olympic or world marathon, with the very best athletes competing on the most important marathon main stage.
So who’s the favorite?
Any of those six girls might win on Sunday, but it surely’s difficult to miss Obiri’s power and ability. Final yr, the 33-year-old Kenyan made her marathon debut in NYC, falling wanting her targets. She revealed struggles with fueling and an imperfect bodily situation for the race. Shortly after the 2022 World Championships, she relocated from Kenya to Boulder, Colo., becoming a member of the On Athletics Membership below the steerage of coach Dathan Ritzenhein.
Amid excessive expectations attributable to her profitable monitor profession and quite a few world cross-country championships, Obiri completed sixth, in 2:25:49. Nonetheless, she made a exceptional comeback, clinching victory in Boston in April. When requested about collaborating within the 2023 World Athletics Championships after her Boston triumph, Obiri declared her focus was on returning to NYC and successful.
Throughout the athlete press convention on Thursday, her coach, Ritzenhein, mentioned she’s at present in the very best form he’s ever seen her in. Contemplating her dominant efficiency in Boston, it seems this race is hers to lose.
What about Kosgei and Gidey?
It’s been a minute since we noticed Kenya’s Kosgei and Ethiopia’s Gidey run a marathon. Kosgei hasn’t completed a marathon since March 2022, when she received the Tokyo Marathon. She was one of many favourites heading into London this yr (a race she has received twice) however ended up with a DNF. Kosgei held the ladies’s world report till Assefa broke her mark of two:14:04 in Berlin in September. We all know Kosgei is quick, however she hasn’t raced since April, and New York’s sluggish and hilly course could possibly be a problem for her return.
Gidey involves New York with one marathon on her resume. After a world-record-setting profession on the monitor, Gidey made her extremely awaited debut on the distance final yr in Valencia–one of many quickest marathon programs on the planet. Everybody anticipated Gidey to obliterate Kosgei’s world report, and she or he didn’t have a nasty debut. Nonetheless, she was humbled by the space, ending second to her compatriot, Beriso, with a time of two:16:49–a report, on the time for the fastest-ever girls’s marathon debut.
Gidey has had an up-and-down 2023 season, by her personal requirements. She received silver within the girls’s 10,000m at Worlds and ran sub 14:10 over 5,000m twice, holding the fourth, fifth and sixth quickest girls’s 5,000m instances in historical past. Gidey possesses monitor pace, and if this have been a half-marathon on Sunday, her 10,000m world report and three world cross titles would serve her effectively on this undulating course. Nonetheless, in a marathon, relying solely on monitor pace has its limitations. If the 25-year-old can show the stamina wanted for 42.2 km, she may find yourself being the shock winner. Racing towards Obiri, Gidey beforehand bested her for gold within the 10,000m on the 2019 World Athletics Championships in Doha; if the race begins quick, might she outperform Obiri as soon as once more?
The previous champions
It’s been seven years for the reason that NYC marathon final noticed a repeat champion, with Kenya’s Mary Keitany (2015 and 2016), however can final yr’s champ, Lokedi, be part of that unique membership? Final yr, Lokedi received the marathon in her debut, which marked the first-ever marathon main win for an Below Armour-sponsored athlete. However since her historic triumph, issues have been rocky for Lokedi, who needed to withdraw from the Boston Marathon attributable to a foot damage that took her out for almost all of the season. She says she is again, and needs to defend her NYC title. One factor Lokedi has in her favour as defending champion is confidence. She is aware of the course, which supplies her a strategic benefit.
One other former NYC champion making a return to New York is the reigning Olympic champion, Jepchirchir. Tactically, Jepchirchir is likely to be top-of-the-line racers within the area, a trait she showcased when she triumphed right here in 2021 and went on to win the Boston Marathon 5 months later. She has received 5 of her final six marathons, and if the tempo units out conservatively on Sunday, it can possible favour extra tactical-style racers like her and Obiri. However there are issues, since Jepchirchir is coming back from an damage and isn’t sure she is going to begin on Sunday. Throughout Thursday’s elite press convention, she talked about re-aggravating her calf damage simply earlier than she travelled to New York final week. She’ll make the choice after her remaining shakeout run on Saturday.
A darkish horse
Many who’re following the race could have their eyes on Obiri, Gidey or Jepchirchir. Nonetheless, when you’re searching for a shock in NYC, it’s prone to come from Ethiopia’s Beriso. Since her victory within the 2022 Mexico Metropolis Marathon in August final yr, Beriso has been in unbelievable type, reaching a powerful 2:14:58 win in Valencia–the fifth-fastest time in historical past. She was additionally the runner-up to Obiri in Boston and secured her first world championship title on the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest in August. Beriso’s current success suggests she’s in exceptional type, and it wouldn’t be stunning to see her atop the rostrum once more, which might be a storybook ending to her yr.
How you can watch
The 2023 TCS New York Metropolis Marathon can be aired in Canada on TSN, with protection starting at 8:00 a.m. ET Sunday. It’s also possible to stream the occasion stay on-line by way of the TSN app or by way of TSN.ca/stay.
All of the motion for the 2023 TCS New York Metropolis Marathon can be dropped at you by Canadian Operating and New Stability. Observe us on Twitter on Instagram for in-depth protection, live-tweeting and up-to-date unique information and content material.
