Defending champions Obiri, Kipruto to headline historic 50th New York City Marathon

The professional field, unveiled for the November 1 race, features three defending champions, Obiri, Kipruto and seven-time men’s wheelchair champion Marcel Hug of Switzerland, alongside 40 Olympians and Paralympians, 25 Olympic, Paralympic and World Championships medallists, and 22 national record holders.

Obiri, who broke the 22-year-old women’s course record last November to capture her second New York title in 2:19:51, said the race holds special meaning for her. 

“Last year’s TCS New York City Marathon was a dream come true, from breaking the course record and capturing my second title to celebrating with the incredible fans who line every mile of the course,” she said.

A third victory would place her alongside marathon legends Grete Waitz, Mary Keitany and Paula Radcliffe in the race’s exclusive three-time champions’ club.

Kipruto, who stunned the field in his 2025 New York debut by edging compatriot Alexander Mutiso by three-hundredths of a second, will face a loaded men’s field including two-time champion Geoffrey Kamworor and 2024 winner Abdi Nageeye of the Netherlands.

“New York has a unique atmosphere and community… I’m eager to defend my title on one of the sport’s biggest stages,” Kipruto said.

No man has successfully defended the New York title in 27 editions since Kenya’s John Kagwe achieved the feat in 1998, adding extra weight to Kipruto’s title defence.

The 2026 race, which will draw nearly 60,000 participants through all five boroughs, also celebrates 50 years since the introduction of a professional elite field, with 1976 champion Bill Rodgers set to join race-week festivities.

The organisers revealed that they expect a huge field of entries following record-breaking participation in last year’s race.

“The TCS New York City Marathon has grown into one of the most inclusive and accessible sporting events in the world, bringing together nearly 60,000 participants and more than 2 million spectators to experience the transformative power of running every first Sunday of November.

“Last year’s race set an event record—for the second consecutive year—with 59,219 finishers, which at the time was the largest marathon in world history,” the race organisers said in a statement.

Obiri heads into New York on the back of a strong 2026 campaign that has seen her claim victory at the New York Half Marathon in 1:06:33, finish second at the London Marathon in 2:15:53 and place third at the New York Mini 10K in 31:10. 

She will be joined in the elite field by Chepkirui, legendary distance star Edna Kiplagat, Viola Cheptoo and Mercy Chelangat.

Meanwhile, Kipruto will particularly be searching for a return to top form after a mixed bag of outings this season. 

He placed third at the Boston Marathon in 2:02:50 before finishing eighth at the Bogota Half Marathon in 1:05:35. He will be joined on the starting line by the evergreen Geoffrey Kamworor, Cybrian Kotut and Edward Cheserek.