Kenya will be chasing a double in the Big Apple on Sunday as defending champions Hellen Obiri and Benson Kipruto line up at the TCS New York City Marathon, a race that this year marks 50 years since it adopted its famous five-borough course.

The two Kenyans won last year's editions in contrasting fashion and both now have a chance to write their names deeper into the history of one of the sport's six World Marathon Majors.

Obiri eyes a place among the greats

Obiri broke Margaret Okayo's 2003 course record when she won last year in 2:19:51. A third New York title would put her in an exclusive club of women with three or more wins in the race, alongside compatriot Mary Keitany, Norway's Grete Waitz and Britain's Paula Radcliffe.

She arrives in good form, having won the New York City Half Marathon earlier this year and finished second at the London Marathon in April in a personal best of 2:15:53. Reports indicate she holds the fastest personal best among the expected women's starters.

Her challenge has been eased by the withdrawal of Olympic champion Sifan Hassan, who pulled out through illness. But the Kenyan opposition is strong:

  • Sheila Chepkirui, the 2024 champion who finished third last year
  • Viola Cheptoo, another experienced Kenyan contender
  • Edna Kiplagat, the 2010 winner, who at 46 continues to compete at the top level

Kiplagat finished fifth at the Cape Town Marathon in May in 2:25:44 and was runner-up in Abu Dhabi late last year. She was fourth in New York in both 2017 and 2022.

Kipruto and Kamworor head men's race

In the men's race, Kipruto won last year in 2:08:09 after edging compatriot Alexander Mutiso by three hundredths of a second in a dramatic finish. Victory on Sunday would make him the first man in 28 years to win the race in consecutive years. The 35-year-old ran 2:02:50 for third at the Boston Marathon this year.

He faces Geoffrey Kamworor, the 2017 and 2019 champion, who is hunting a third New York crown. Kamworor, a three-time world half marathon champion, finished eighth at the London Marathon in April in 2:05:38 and has stressed patience as the key to the 42km course.

"The marathon is a long distance, so the key is patience. If you don't have patience, you will not achieve anything," Kamworor told The Star.

CyBrian Kotut, with a best of 2:03:22, adds more Kenyan firepower, while Ethiopia's Deresa Geleta and the Netherlands' Abdi Nageeye, the 2024 winner, lead the foreign challenge.

Race under a doping cloud

The build-up has been overshadowed by the provisional suspension of former New York champion Peres Jepchirchir over a positive test for the banned blood booster EPO, a case that both defending champions have spoken about this week.

Sunday's race starts on Staten Island and finishes in Central Park, with Kenyan fans hoping for a repeat of last year's Kenyan double.

Photos: Eastleigh Voice; The Star. Thumbnail design: HAMASTA MEDIA.