One of the biggest anniversaries in running history will be celebrated on Sunday.
Because with the New York City Marathon, the world’s largest marathon is being held for the 50th time. The top star is Ethiopia’s running legend Kenenisa Bekele.
From 55 finishers to over 50,000 finishers in 5 decades
What began in 1970 with 127 starters and 55 finishers has developed into the largest marathon event in the world in more than five decades. From 2016 to 2019, the New York City Marathon had more than 50,000 finishers. On November 7th, 2021 there won’t be quite that many for the 50th anniversary. Because the starting field has been limited to 33,000 runners this year, many of whom are not able to take part anyway due to travel restrictions. Nevertheless, it will be one of the biggest marathons since the beginning of the corona pandemic.
2 top stars with question marks
The top stars at the 50th New York City Marathon are the Ethiopian Kenenisa Bekele and the Kenyan Peres Jepchirchir. However, there is a big question mark behind both of them. Because the preparation for the marathon in Big Apple was anything but ideal for the duo.
Only a 6-week marathon break for Kenenisa Bekele
Kenenisa Bekele only competed in the Berlin Marathon six weeks ago, where he was the big loser in third with 2:06:47 hours. Bekele wanted to attack his personal best of 2:01:41 hours in the German capital and thus also the marathon world record of Eliud Kipchoge (2:01:39 hours), which was just two seconds faster. But the former world record holder over the 10,000 meters and the 5,000 meters had a pitch-black day and ultimately even missed victory in a defensive race. Now he wants to run to triumph just six weeks later in New York.
Dangerous outsider: Abdi Nageeye
The competition for Bekele for the US $ 100,000 prize money is fierce. So it says about Abdi Nageeye at the beginning. The Dutchman impressed with Olympic silver over the marathon distance in the summer. Even if his personal best of a modest 2:06:17 hours does not reflect his actual performance, he could become a big spoiler for Bekele in New York. In total, eight athletes with best times under 2:10 hours are registered.
Half marathon world record holder makes debut
The half marathon world record holder is making his marathon debut Kibiwott Kandie. In December 2020, the 25-year-old Kenyan became the first person in the world to run the half-marathon distance in under 58 minutes at the Valencia Half Marathon with 57:32 minutes.
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Strong trio of women
For the women, the reigning Olympic marathon champion is of course Peres Jepchirchir the top favorite. The Kenyan won the Olympic marathon in Sapporo three months ago with 2:27:30 hours, her best time is 2:17:16 hours. It also leads the registration list in New York. The big question remains whether she has already fully recovered from her Olympic exertions. In addition, there has never been an Olympic marathon champion who won an autumn marathon after her Olympic victory. So far Jepchirchir has won every marathon race in which she has participated.
With the Ethiopian Ruti Aga (2:18:34 hours) and Helalia Johannes (2:19:52 hours) from Namibia there are two dangerous outsiders. The Ethiopian also has a good chance of winning Ababel Yeshaneh (2:20:51 hours), who is one of the fastest runners over the half marathon distance with a half marathon best time of 64:31 minutes.
Olympic heroine Molly Seidel at the start
The American women’s team is well represented, including an Olympic heroine Molly Seidel occurs. In Sapporo, she surprisingly won bronze in the marathon. Even Of the linden (2:22:28 hours), Kellyn Taylor (2:24:49 hours) and Sally Kipyego (2:25:10 hours) can hope for top times for the USA.
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New York City Marathon LIVE im TV und via Live-Stream
The race will be broadcast live via Eurosport 2 (Germany, Austria), ESPN (USA) and Rai Sport (Italy).
Start list: New York City Marathon 2021 – Elite Men
- Kenenisa Bekele – Ethiopia – 2:01:41
- Abdi Nageeye – Niederlande – 2:06:17
- Ghirmay Ghebreslassie – Eritrea – 2:07:11
- Eyob Faniel – Italy – 2:07:19
- Albert Korir – Kenya – 2:08:03
- Noah Droddy – USA – 2:09:09
- Mohamed El Aaraby – Marokko – 2:09:16
- Jared Ward – USA- 2:09:25
- Kibiwott Kandie – Kenya – Debut
- Augustine Choge – Kenya – Debut
- Teshome Mekonen – Ethiopia – Debut
Start list: New York City Marathon 2021 – Elite Ladies
- Peres Jepchirchir – Kenya – 2:17:16
- Ruti Aga – Ethiopia – 2:18:34
- Helalia Johannes – Namibia – 2:19:52
- Ababel Yeshaneh – Ethiopia – 2:20:51
- Des Linden – USA – 2:22:28
- Kellyn Taylor – USA – 2:24:29
- Sally Kipyego – USA – 2:25:10
- Molly Seidel – USA – 2:25:13
- Laura Thweatt – USA – 2:25:38
- Andrea Ramirez Limon – Mexiko – 2:26:34
- Haruka Yamaguchi –Japan- 2:26:35
- Stephanie Bruce – USA – 2:27:47
- Lanni Marchant – Kanada – 2:28:00
- Viola Cheptoo – Kenya – Debüt
All information about the New York City Marathon
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