Olympic champions Sifan Hassan and Eliud Kipchoge will make their New York City Marathon debuts on Sunday, confronting a course known for its rolling bridges, loud crowds, and unpredictability. The race, which winds through five boroughs, is widely considered one of the most challenging in the world due to its five bridges and undulating finish in Central Park.
Hassan, who has won marathons in London, Chicago, and Sydney, admitted to feeling nervous ahead of the race. “I’m really scared,” she told reporters on Friday, adding that many have warned her New York is “so hard.” Kipchoge, often hailed as the greatest marathoner of all time, will also be racing the course for the first time. Both athletes competed in the Sydney marathon just nine weeks ago, which Hassan won.
The elite women's field includes former champions Sheila Chepkirui, Sharon Loekdi, and Hellen Obiri, as well as Olympic bronze medalist Molly Seidel, Emily Sisson, and Susanna Sullivan. The men's field features former champions Abdi Nageeye and Albert Korir, Olympic bronze medalist Benson Kipruto, and London Marathon winner Alexander Mutiso. Americans Hillary Bor and Joe Klecker will make their marathon debuts.
Fiona O’Keeffe, who won the US Olympic Trials in February 2024 but withdrew from the Paris Olympics due to a femoral stress fracture, is returning to the marathon with a renewed perspective. “I’ve seen both sides of the coin now,” she said. “Racing is the fun part of what we do.”
British runner Patrick Dever, making his marathon debut after focusing on track events, acknowledged the mental challenge of the longer distance. “You’re just out there for such a longer period of time, so you just have way more time in your own head to talk yourself out of it, or keep yourself calm,” he said.
