Introduction
New York City is set to host its most sought-after marathon this Sunday, featuring over 55,000 runners and sports icons such as Sifan Hassan and Eliud Kipchoge, who announced this would be his final major test before embarking on new challenges.
Eliud Kipchoge: A Marathon Legend
Eliud Kipchoge, widely regarded as the greatest marathon runner in history, is set to potentially bid farewell to major marathons in New York, a city he has never raced in before. The Kenyan runner, who will turn 41 next week, is a two-time Olympic champion (Rio de Janeiro 2016 and Tokyo 2020) and has set two world records in the marathon distance.
- His most recent world record, achieved in 2022 with a time of two hours, one minute, and nine seconds, was shattered in 2023 by his countryman Kelvin Kiptum (2H00:35).
- Kipchoge has been a dominant force in marathon running for over a decade, never including the New York Marathon—the world’s largest—in his late-year schedule.
Before making his New York debut, Kipchoge shared insights with Olympics.com about his future plans:
“It’s time to go there (New York) before embarking on my new adventure of running for other things,” he stated. “I want to do something extreme that pushes someone to their absolute limit… I’m going to run in the Antarctica!”
Elite Competition and Key Runners
In the elite competition, Kipchoge will face another athletics legend, Ethiopia’s Kenenisa Bekele, along with current champion Abdi Nageeye from the Netherlands and bronze medalist Benson Kipruto from Kenya.
In the women’s category, Netherlands’ star Sifan Hassan will also make her New York Marathon debut just two months after winning the Sydney marathon. She will face reigning Olympic champion Sharon Lokedi and Hellen Obiri, who won the New York Marathon in 2022 and 2023, respectively.
Record-Breaking Participation
Beyond the elite competition, the 54th New York Marathon may set a world record for participation, reflecting the growing popularity of marathons.
- More than 200,000 people registered for the race, a 22% increase from 2024, which will take place just two days before the new mayor of the United States’ most populous city is elected.
- Among the applicants, over 55,000 were fortunate enough to secure a spot, raising the possibility of surpassing the record number of finishers.
New York had previously set this mark in 2023 with 55,646 runners, but London surpassed it in March with 56,640 participants. Logistical constraints of an urban race have prevented the world-famous marathon from increasing its capacity.
The number of participants has only grown by 5% between 2018 and 2024, causing frustration among many enthusiasts. For instance, Maryland resident Dan Bucherer has lost count of the number of unsuccessful attempts to secure a spot through the lottery.
New York residents can participate in the 9+1 program, which guarantees a bib in exchange for completing nine other races organized by New York Road Runners (NYRR) throughout the previous year. However, with entry fees for all races—including the marathon—the 9+1 ticket costs at least $600.
These smaller races are now highly sought after and sell out quickly, turning the 9+1 program into a race in itself.
“With the running boom post-COVID pandemic, New York Road Runners has seen record participation in all our events,” the organizers confirmed to AFP.
