Defending champions Hellen Obiri and Benson Kipruto will lead a large Kenyan group at the TCS New York City Marathon on Sunday, November 1. Organisers have published the final elite fields for the race. Obiri's main rival is missing after Olympic champion Sifan Hassan withdrew.

The final entry lists, released on Monday, October 26, feature a deep Kenyan contingent in both elite fields, according to Watch Athletics. This year's race also marks the 50th anniversary of the five-borough course, which takes runners from Staten Island through Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx to the finish in Manhattan's Central Park.

Obiri the woman to beat

Obiri returns as the clear favourite. Last year she won in 2:19:51, breaking a course record that had stood for 22 years, and the whole podium finished at least two minutes inside the old mark, Citius Mag noted. The two-time Boston Marathon champion also has the fastest personal best in the women's field, 2:15:53, which she ran for second place at the London Marathon in April.

Her task became easier when the Dutch star Sifan Hassan pulled out. On October 14 Hassan announced that an illness had disrupted her training, according to Marathon Handbook and Reuters. Hassan was sixth in New York last year and had already missed the London Marathon in the spring with an Achilles injury. American Fiona O'Keeffe has also withdrawn, through injury.

Obiri will still face strong opposition, much of it from Kenya. Viola Cheptoo (2:19:05), the veteran Edna Kiplagat (2:19:50), who won in New York in 2010, and Mercy Chelangat (2:20:30) are all entered. Former world champion Gotytom Gebreslase of Ethiopia and the Americans Jessica McClain and Annie Frisbie are among the other contenders. US half marathon record holder Weini Kelati makes her marathon debut.

Kipruto chases a fifth major

In the men's race, Kipruto is going for his fifth World Marathon Major title. He won in New York last year by the smallest of margins, beating compatriot Alexander Mutiso Munyao in a photo finish, and was third at the Boston Marathon in April in 2:02:50. His personal best of 2:02:16 is the fastest in the field.

"I'm coming well prepared for the last kick," Kipruto said, in comments carried by Citius Mag.

Mutiso Munyao is not returning. Kipruto's Kenyan teammates include 2017 New York champion Geoffrey Kamworor (2:04:23), CyBrian Kotut (2:03:22) and Edward Cheserek (2:05:24). Patrick Kiprop, a US-based road runner, makes his marathon debut after running 59:14 for second at the Houston Half Marathon. He went on to win the Bolder Boulder, the BAA 10K and the Peachtree Road Race over the summer.

The strongest threats from outside Kenya include Ethiopia's Deresa Geleta (2:02:38), the Netherlands' Abdi Nageeye, who won New York in 2024, and the Americans Conner Mantz and Zouhair Talbi. Sweden's Andreas Almgren also makes his marathon debut.

A chance to lift the mood

The race comes at a difficult moment for Kenyan distance running. Reigning world marathon champion Peres Jepchirchir was provisionally suspended by the Athletics Integrity Unit last week after a positive test for EPO.

Kenyan runners have had some good results on the roads in recent weeks. Amos Kipruto won the Chicago Marathon on October 11. On Sunday, Peter Kwemoi set a course record in Venice and Daniel Kiprono Sang won in Casablanca. Wins for Obiri and Benson Kipruto in New York would make it a strong autumn for Kenya at the major marathons.

Photos: Governor's Press Office, Massachusetts / Wikimedia Commons (public domain); Martineric / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)