Abdi Nageeye and Sheila Chepkirui claim their first NYC Marathon victories

NEW YORK – Abdi Nageeye of the Netherlands won the men's race at the New York City Marathon on Sunday, and Sheila Chepkirui of Kenya won the women's race.

Both runners pulled away from their closest competitors in the last few hundred meters and took their first victories in the race.

Nageeye was pace for pace with 2022 champion Evans Chebet before taking victory with an attack into Central Park in 2 hours, 7 minutes and 39 seconds. Chebet finished 6 seconds behind.

“At the finish line I thought: Am I dreaming? I won New York,” Nageeye said.

He had already taken part in the New York race three times, and his best result so far came in 2022 when he came third.

“I know the course,” Nageeye said. “Today was about two things: survive the race, and my race is at 36 (kilometers; 22 miles). I thought like a cyclist, survive 36 km and you will win.”

Chepkirui ran for the first time in New York and prevailed in the women's race ahead of defending champion Hellen Obiri. Chepkirui started running marathons in 2022. She finished the race in 2:24.35. Obiri finished almost 15 seconds behind.

“It means my training was good,” Chepkirui said. “I'm so happy.”

Obiri was aiming to become the first repeat winner since Mary Keitany of Kenya won three in a row in 2014/16. Vivian Cheruiyot of Kenya came third, securing the top three spots for the African nation.

Tamirat Tola, defending men's champion and gold medalist at the Paris Olympics, finished fourth, just behind Albert Korir.

The top Americans finished sixth in both races. Conner Mantz led the men's race and Sara Vaughn led the women's race. Vaughn was in the lead group heading into mile 20 as they entered the Bronx before dropping off the lead group.

Vaughn was prepared to run in Chicago before COVID-19 prevented her from competing in that race. She came late to this marathon.

The day started with an upset in the men's wheelchair race as three-time defending champion Marcel Hug was beaten by Daniel Romanchuk, who won in 2018 and 2019. Susannah Scaroni won the women's wheelchair race. It was her second victory in New York, she also won the 2022 race and gave the Americans winners in both disciplines – the first time that has happened.

The 26.2-mile route took runners through all five boroughs of New York, starting in Staten Island and ending in Central Park. This is the 48th year the race has been held in all five boroughs. Previously, the route was entirely in Central Park when it was launched in 1970. The first race saw only 55 participants finish, while this year more than 50,000 participants were expected.

The weather was perfect for running with temperatures around 40 degrees when the race began. Last year it was 61 degrees at the start of the race.