Lokedi, Obiri, Jepchirchir and Kosgei to clash in New York

Defending champion Sharon Lokedi, Boston Marathon winner Hellen Obiri, Olympic gold medallist Peres Jepchirchir and marathon world record-holder Brigid Kosgei will clash in a competitive TCS New York City Marathon on 5 November.

Lokedi won the World Athletics Elite Platinum Label road race on her marathon debut last year, pulling away in the final two miles to finish in 2:23:23.

“Last year, I came into the TCS New York City Marathon with the goal of being in the thick of the race, and the result was better than I could have ever hoped for,” Lokedi said.

“This year, I’m returning with a different mindset, hungry to defend my title and race against the fastest women in the world.”

Obiri is a two-time world 5000m champion who earlier this year won the Boston Marathon on her second attempt at the distance. She finished sixth when making her marathon debut last year in New York.

“With a year of marathon experience now under my belt, a win in Boston, and my move to the US, I’m coming to New York this year with more confidence and in search of a title,” she explained.

Jepchirchir is also a two-time world gold medallist, having won half marathon titles in 2016 and 2020.

The following year she claimed her Olympic marathon crown and she followed that with New York City Marathon victory, finishing in 2:22:39 for the third-fastest time in event history, just eight seconds off the event record.

In 2022, in a race that came down to the final mile, she held off Ababel Yeshaneh to take the Boston Maraton title and then in April she secured another podium finish, taking third at the London Marathon.

“I was so disappointed that I couldn’t defend my title in New York last year due to an injury, and winning again in Central Park has been my main motivation as I begin my preparations for the autumn,” Jepchirchir said.

Kosgei contests the New York City Marathon for the first time as she looks to add to a CV that already includes major marathon wins in Chicago, where she ran her landmark 2:14:04 in 2019, plus London and Tokyo.

“I am very excited to make my New York City debut this fall, and attempt to win my fourth different major,” Kosgei said. “I am not worried about the course, as I have had success in hilly marathons before, but New York has always been about head-to-head competition, and I know I must be in the best possible shape to compete with the other women in the race.”

The full fields for the race will be announced at a later date.