The New York Marathon will take place on Sunday and ahead of the epic race, Pulse Sports highlights the four women likely to be on the podium.
A quality field is expected in the 2024 New York Marathon that is set for Sunday, November 3, as athletes look to set records on the course while others seek to bag victories for the first time.
Even though fierce competition is expected, Pulse Sports takes a look at athletes deemed favourites by bookmarkers to clinch a podium position as the build-up to the marathon enters homestretch.
Hellen Obiri (Kenya)
Hellen Obiri enters this year’s New York City Marathon as the defending champion in formidable form just like last year. In 2023, the 34-year-old had her arm raised victorious at the end of both the Boston and the New York City marathons. This year, she has the chance to repeat history after her victory in Boston set her up for an intriguing double-double.
05:45 - 02.10.2024
Kenya’s Hellen Obiri & Benson Kipruto maintain lead in chase for ultimate Ksh 6.4m Marathon Majors prize
Kenya’s Hellen Obiri & Benson Kipruto remain unchallenged for the Ksh6.4m World Marathon Majors prize but the chase is set to go down to the wire with two races remaining.
Obiri’s other notable 2024 highlight was bronze in the Olympic marathon in Paris, which took place just 11 weeks ago. It was an incident-packed race for the Kenyan, which included falls and missed drink stations, but she rallied bravely to finish on the podium for her third Olympic medal in as many Games. Obiri boasts a marathon PB of 2:23:10.
Sharon Lokedi (Kenya)
The 2022 New York City marathon champion was within touching distance of an Olympic medal, missing out on the podium by a mere four seconds on the streets of Paris. It’s evidence of the strength of the Kenyan marathon team that Lokedi was originally named as a reserve for the Olympics before she replaced an injured Brigid Kosgei just weeks before the Games.
10:45 - 30.10.2024
'I'm glad I made that decision' - Sharon Lokedi on why relocating to the US was the masterstroke in her career
Former New York City marathon champion Sharon Lokedi spent most of last season plotting for her biggest test yet, running the Olympic marathon course
Lokedi also lost out to Obiri at this year’s Boston Marathon where she finished second, but her impressive achievements after only four career marathons will put her in good stead when she races again in the Big Apple. Lokedi has a marathon PB of 2:22:45
Dakotah Lindwurm (USA)
Dakotah Lindwurmwas USA's top finisher at the Paris Olympics, coming 12th in the French capital. Lindwurm has high expectations for this year’s race in New York, having improved in an area she feels has been her main weakness in the past.
"I’d say my 'A' goal would be to be on the podium,” Lindwurm, whose marathon PB is 2:24:40, said in the build-up to the race as revealed by Olympics.com. "I don’t think that’s out of reach when I’ve been training so hard on the hills, and for the first time in my life, feel really, really confident on hills."
Sheila Chepkirui (Kenya)
In terms of pure marathon speed, Chepkirui is the fastest woman in the field. The 33-year-old holds a personal best of 2:17:29 set on the rapid Valencia Marathon course in 2022. While Chepkirui does not have the Olympic pedigree of some of her rivals in New York, she did win bronze in the 10,000m at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
07:57 - 15.08.2024
'We fought for the gold'- Sharon Lokedi lauds women's marathon team for their efforts at Paris Olympics
Despite missing out on the gold medal at the Paris Olympic Games, Sharon Lokedi has lauded Peres Jepchirchir and Hellen Obiri for their efforts in the women's marathon.
Her form over the 42.195km distance has, however, been nothing short of impressive and includes a 2:17:49 at last year’s Berlin Marathon. She will be aiming for a new PB in a year in which the women’s marathon world record has toppled to under the mythical mark of 2 hours and 10 minutes. Chepkirui's PB is 2:17:29