Kenya’s Sheila Chepkirui charges to victory at New York City Marathon
Chepkirui surged ahead in the file mile, winning her debut in the New York City Marathon
Bjorn Peree
On Sunday morning at the New York City Marathon, Kenya’s Sheila Chepkirui surged in the homestretch to clinch the win in 2:24:35. Chepkirui held off a fierce challenge from defending champion Hellen Obiri, who finished just seconds behind her, in 2:24:49. The podium was completed by 41-year-old marathon veteran Vivian Cheruiyot, in 2:25:21.
Your 2024 #TCSNYCMarathon Open Women's division champion is Sheila Chepkirui of Kenya in an official time of 2:24:35. 🥇 pic.twitter.com/TWr4a0nVJb
— TCS New York City Marathon (@nycmarathon) November 3, 2024
“Winning means everything to me. It means my training has been going well,” Chepkirui told the media post-race. Chepkirui was a top contender going in, as she held the fastest personal best in the field—2:17:29, from the 2022 Valencia Marathon.
The favourite to win, Obiri, was following up a victory in Boston earlier this year; in 2023, Obiri became the first woman in three decades to win both Boston and NYC in the same year. But she couldn’t match Chepkirui’s smooth pace in the final sprint. “Sheila was very strong. I tried to push,” Obiri told media. “I build a lot of speed for Boston and Paris. I couldn’t do the same for NYC [with the tight 11-week window].”
Sheila Chepkirui 🇰🇪 is the winner of the 2024 TCS @nycmarathon.🗽
Sheila battled it out with defending champion Hellen Obiri over the closing miles of the race through Central Park to claim her first-ever Abbott World Marathon Majors title.
Great running, Sheila! pic.twitter.com/ENmZm7nhvX
— Abbott WMMajors (@WMMajors) November 3, 2024
The race began conservatively, with 21 women hitting the halfway point together in 1:13:59. Around the 30K mark, Cheruiyot took control of the pace, surging to the front with an impressive 5:15 mile—setting the tone for an intense battle in the final kilometres. The pack had dwindled to five, and a few kilometres later, only Chepkirui, Obiri and Cheruiyot remained.
The women's race is down to THREE with 5K to go!
Can 🇰🇪 Hellen Obiri's repeat? Or will her compatriots Sheila Chepkirui and Vivian Cheruiyot pull off the upset?#NYCMarathon #RunYourWay
— Canadian Running (@CanadianRunning) November 3, 2024
Tension rose as the three women approached Central Park together; with about half a mile left, Chepkirui launched a powerful kick, surging ahead and breaking away from Obiri to secure her first World Major Marathon title.
The top American runner (and first American masters woman) was Sara Vaughan, who finished in 2:26:56 and sixth overall in the women’s field. “I feel awesome…it was a really fun day,” she told media post-race. “I just feel like everything worked out the way it was supposed to.”
Vaughan was entered to run Chicago three weeks ago, but came down with COVID in the days leading up to the race. She was a last-minute entry into New York.
Top five women:
- Sheila Chepkirui (KEN) 2:24:35
- Hellen Obiri (KEN) 2:24:49
- Vivian Cheruiyot (KEN) 2:25:21
- Eunice Chumba (BRN) 2:25:58
- Fabienne Schlumpf (SUI) 2:26:31
Men’s race
2020 Olympic silver medallist Abdi Nageeye became the first Dutch runner to win the men’s title in New York City, crossing the line in 2:07:39. Evans Chebet held on for second, finishing just six seconds behind Nageeye in 2:07:45. Kenya’s Albert Korir, the 2021 champion, placed third in 2:08:00. Tamirat Tola, the course record holder, Olympic champion and defending champion, was fourth, in 2:08:12.
Canada’s top athlete, Rory Linkletter, finished in 2:11:42–the third-fastest marathon of his career and the fastest by a Canadian man on the NYC course, surpassing Peter Maher’s 2:11:55 performance from 1991, when he placed fourth. For more on the men’s race, click here.
Abdi Nageeye becomes first Dutch athlete to win TCS New York City Marathon
For full results of the 2024 New York City Marathon, click here.
