Legends, Rising Stars, and Unfinished Business Set to Shape NYC Marathon Showdown

Legends, Rising Stars, and Unfinished Business Set to Shape NYC Marathon Showdown

The 2024 New York City Marathon marks the final chapter of a thrilling season in distance running. With Olympic medalists, former champions, and emerging stars in men’s and women’s fields, this year’s race is primed to end the marathon calendar with plenty of drama. The men’s and women’s races each bring unique storylines. Olympic champions on defense, rivalries rekindled, and athletes chasing the elusive podium finish. Here’s how each field stacks up.

Men’s Race: Tola and the Return of the Titans

On the men’s side, reigning Olympic champion Tamirat Tola of Ethiopia enters as the favorite. Tola has emerged as a dominant figure in championship-style marathons, where pacemakers are absent, and the race turns into a battle of endurance and strategy. Known for his ability to pull away in the second half of a race, Tola’s recent personal best of 2:03:39 highlights his potential to control the field. New York’s unpaced, rolling course perfectly suits Tola’s racing style, giving him a decisive advantage.

Yet Tola’s record isn’t flawless; he’s had high-profile did-not-finish (DNF) results in London and Budapest, where he mysteriously dropped out. This unpredictability leaves room for challengers to capitalize if Tola’s Achilles’ heel reappears. Evans Chebet, who briefly reigned as the world’s top marathoner, is one such contender. Chebet has won three major marathons—Boston in 2022, New York in 2022, and Boston again in 2023. However, injury sidelined him from last year’s New York race, and his non-selection for Kenya’s Olympic team adds extra motivation for Chebet to reclaim his place as a frontrunner. With his 2:05:54 course record set in 2023, Chebet knows the nuances of New York and has both the speed and experience to contend.

Two more names to watch are Kenya’s Geoffrey Kamworor and Albert Korir. Kamworor, a two-time NYC Marathon winner (2017 and 2019), returns with a shot at a third title. Known for his explosive kick in the final stages, Kamworor’s experience on this course makes him a formidable presence. Korir, meanwhile, has proven consistency here, with finishes of 1st, 2nd, 7th, and another podium in 2023. His comfort on this course and tactical precision make him a reliable contender for the podium, if not the title.

Bashir Abdi of Belgium, an Olympic silver medalist who has become a reliable championship competitor, will join the field.

His history with fellow Olympic medalist and former training partner Abdi Nageeye of the Netherlands adds another layer to the race. While Abdi finished second in Paris, Nageeye withdrew.

Then there’s CJ Albertson, an American wildcard who defies marathon norms. Known for his unconventional approach, Albertson recently set a personal best of 2:08:17 in Chicago, just three weeks before New York. With his eccentric racing style, Albertson has already finished as the top American in Boston and Chicago this year. While another peak performance so soon would be unusual, his unpredictability makes him a captivating figure in the field.

(Editor’s note: We also cannot discount Connor Mantz and Clayton Young, on the American field, who went 8th and 9th in the Paris Olympic Marathon as well as taking the top two positions in the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials. )

Women’s Race: Obiri’s Quest for an Encore

In the women’s race, all eyes are on Kenya’s Hellen Obiri. Obiri has risen quickly through the marathon ranks, first making history by winning Boston and New York in the same year, an accomplishment no woman had achieved in 34 years. This year, Obiri arrives in New York looking to defend her title following a victory at the Boston Marathon in April. Her season has been remarkable; she even claimed an Olympic bronze medal despite an injury setback just weeks before the Games.

The women’s field also features Sheila Chepkirui, a fast marathoner who holds the field’s quickest personal best at 2:17:29. While her record shows potential, she has yet to claim a significant victory, leaving her position in this race unpredictable. Senberi Teferi of Ethiopia is another contender who has excelled in shorter road races but hasn’t secured a significant marathon win. Both athletes will need more than a fast time to thrive in New York, where tactical acumen can mean the difference between victory and defeat.

Adding to the intrigue are two track and cross-country legends, Vivian Cheruiyot and Tirunesh Dibaba. Their rivalry stretches back over two decades, with both athletes dominating on the track in the 5,000m and 10,000m. Cheruiyot’s 2:18:31 and Dibaba’s 2:17:56 personal bests place them as the second and third fastest in the field, though neither has fully transitioned their track dominance into marathon success. This may serve as a symbolic last act in their storied rivalry, offering fans a nostalgic subplot that recalls some of the greatest battles in distance running history.

NYC’s Demanding Course: Where Legends Are Made

The New York City Marathon is notorious for its grueling course. Spanning the five boroughs, the course weaves through diverse neighborhoods, from Staten Island through the Bronx to the final stretch in Central Park. Unlike some flatter, record-breaking marathon courses, New York’s elevation changes and tight turns require careful pacing and keen strategy. The absence of pacemakers amplifies the challenge, transforming the race into a chess match of endurance and mental grit.

For veterans, the course represents a final test, a chance to solidify a reputation or mount a comeback. For first-time runners, it’s an initiation into one of the sport’s most iconic arenas. With a field packed with Olympians, past champions, and rising stars this year, each runner will be racing for more than just a title—they’ll be vying for a place in New York’s marathon history. As the runners set off on Sunday, November 3rd, New York’s streets will again bear witness to one of the world’s most anticipated marathon showdowns.