Kenyan athletes once again demonstrated their formidable prowess on the global stage, securing commanding victories in both the men’s and women’s elite races at the 2025 New York City Marathon. The prestigious event, held on November 2, saw Benson Kipruto cross the finish line first in the men’s division with an impressive time of 2 hours, 8 minutes, and 9 seconds. In the women’s race, Hellen Obiri showcased her remarkable endurance, clinching the top spot with a time of 2 hours, 19 minutes, and 51 seconds.
Kipruto’s victory was hard-fought, as he narrowly edged out fellow Kenyan Alexander Mutiso by a mere three seconds, concluding a race where the two athletes ran in close contention from start to finish. Rounding out the podium was Albert Korir, the 2021 New York Marathon champion, who secured third place with a time of 2 hours, 8 minutes, and 57 seconds. This triumph marks Kipruto’s fourth major marathon championship, adding to an already distinguished career. The 34-year-old Kenyan has previously celebrated victories at the Tokyo Marathon in 2024, the Chicago Marathon in 2022, and the Boston Marathon in 2021, solidifying his status as a dominant force in long-distance running.
In the women’s elite field, Hellen Obiri, a bronze medalist at the 2024 Paris Olympics, demonstrated her competitive spirit by outperforming Sharon Lokedi. Obiri’s winning time of 2 hours, 19 minutes, and 51 seconds put her just 16 seconds ahead of Lokedi, who finished as the runner-up. For the 35-year-old Obiri, this win represents her fourth career marathon title. Her impressive resume includes back-to-back wins at the Boston International Marathon in 2023 and 2024, as well as a previous victory at the New York City Marathon in 2023. Sheila Chepkirui, the 2024 champion, completed the women’s podium, securing third place with a time of 2 hours, 20 minutes, and 24 seconds.
In the wheelchair divisions, Switzerland’s Marcel Hug continued his incredible form, setting a new course record for his seventh victory at the event with a time of 1 hour, 30 minutes, and 16 seconds. On the women’s side, American athlete Susannah Scaroni triumphed in the wheelchair race, finishing in 1 hour, 42 minutes, and 10 seconds.
Notably, two-time Olympic gold medalist Eliud Kipchoge also participated in the New York City Marathon, finishing in 17th place with a time of 2 hours, 14 minutes, and 36 seconds. Following the race, the 40-year-old marathon legend announced ambitious plans for the future: he intends to embark on a challenge to run marathons on all seven continents of the world within the next two years. This global endeavor, dubbed the “Eliud Kipchoge World Tour,” aims to further cement his legacy in the sport.
