The New York Marathon brought excitement to the city on Sunday as Dutch runner Abdi Nageeye and Kenya’s Sheila Chepkirui emerged as champions in the men’s and women’s races, respectively.
Nageeye, a 35-year-old originally from Somalia, became the first Dutch runner to win this prestigious event, completing the course in 2:07:39 for his career’s first major win. “I knew this was my day,” he stated, reflecting on his strategic race where he remained focused and managed to edge out Kenyan Evans Chebet in the final five kilometers.
Chebet, the 2022 champion, finished second just six seconds later, while 2021 winner Albert Korir claimed third with a time of 2:08:00.
As Nageeye advanced through the miles, he felt unusually strong and confident. “When I saw 39, 40k and I was feeling like this, I can go onto 50k,” he explained, describing his determination to claim victory.
The win holds special significance after a disappointing finish in the 2024 Paris Olympics, where a water station mishap ended his race early. Determined to make a comeback, he focused on rigorous training, setting his sights on the New York podium with hopes of winning. He described his preparation: “It looked simple, but hard work was behind it.”
The win adds to Nageeye’s impressive resume, which includes a silver medal from the Tokyo 2021 Olympics and a third-place finish at the New York Marathon in 2022.
Ethiopian Olympic champion Tamirat Tola, aiming to combine New York victory with Olympic gold, finished fourth, missing his opportunity by just 32 seconds. Kenyan Geoffrey Kamworor, twice champion in previous years, finished fifth with a time of 2:08:50.
In the women’s race, Kenya’s Sheila Chepkirui made an impressive debut, claiming first place in 2:24:35, just 14 seconds ahead of defending champion Hellen Obiri.
The close race concluded in the last mile, with Obiri, aiming to achieve back-to-back wins, securing second place and Vivian Cheruiyot taking bronze, completing a Kenyan sweep of the podium – a feat last accomplished in 1978. “This means a lot to me,” Chepkirui expressed, adding that her hard training paid off despite the intense final mile.
The wheelchair division saw American Daniel Romanchuk and Susannah Scaroni claim victories. Romanchuk, champion in 2018 and 2019, finished first in 1:36:31, narrowly beating David Weir of Britain, while Scaroni finished in 1:48:05, securing her second win with a significant lead over the competition. Over 50,000 runners from nearly 150 countries participated, underscoring the marathon’s global appeal and inclusivity.
