Over 50,000 runners and a dozen favorites in the New York Marathon

02.11.2018

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Jörg Little

Only a dozen of over 50,000 runners have a realistic chance of winning the marathon spectacle in New York on Sunday. By far the largest race in the world over the 42.195 kilometers is not as broad at the top this year as it was in the past.

The organizers of the race, the New York Road Runners, are expecting more than 50,000 starters on Sunday (November 4th) as they did last. The New York Marathon (USA) has been the largest marathon in the world for many years. The highest number of finishers was registered two years ago with 51,394 athletes. In 2017, 50,773 runners crossed the finish line in Central Park. New York is still the only marathon in which over 50,000 participants crossed the finish line.

In this year’s New York Marathon, only six men and six women have the best cards in the battle for the prestigious victory, which will each be rewarded with US $ 100,000, in the run from the Verrazano Narrows Bridge to Central Park. Among them, the Kenyan Geoffrey Kamworor and the American Shalane Flanagan are both defending champions.

Strongest challenger from Ethiopia

In the men’s race, Geoffrey Kamworor’s strongest challengers come from Ethiopia this time. Tamirat Tola is the fastest runner on the star list. The Ethiopian, who finished third in Dubai in January to 2:04:06 hours and was runner-up in the marathon world champion in 2017, will start at the New York Marathon for the first time.

The same goes for his compatriot Shura Kitata. The Ethiopian had his breakthrough a year ago in Frankfurt when he won the race with 2:05:50 hours. In the spring, Kitata finished second in the high-class London Marathon. Despite the very high temperatures, he ran a high-class 2:04:49 hours.

Lelisa Desisa with a lot of experience in US road running

Lelisa Desisa, on the other hand, has a lot of experience in US road running. The Ethiopian won the Boston Marathon twice (2013 and 2015) and already finished second (2014) and third (2015 and 2017) in New York. Desisa ran his best time of 2:04:45 hours when he won Dubai in 2013.

Daniel Wanjiru also has the fastest time with 2:05:21 hours compared to defending champion Geoffrey Kamworor (2:06:12 h). However, Wanjiru’s form has not been convincing recently, while Kamworor is said to be in good shape. A third Kenyan is one of the favorites: Festus Talam starts the race with a personal record of 2:06:13 hours.

Mary Keitany versus Vivian Cheruiyot

Surprisingly, Mary Keitany had to admit defeat in New York a year ago. The Kenyan, who has already won the race three times, finished second behind Shalane Flanagan. With her Africa record time of 2:17:01 hours, Mary Keitany is once again the fastest runner in the women’s elite field.

However, she meets a compatriot to whom she surprisingly had to admit defeat in London in the spring: Vivian Cheruiyot. The 5,000 meter Olympic champion from Rio 2016 has made the switch to the marathon distance in an impressive way. After a victory in Frankfurt a year ago, the triumph in London followed in April. In the British metropolis, it increased to the world-class time of 2:18:31 hours.

Last race for Shalane Flanagan?

Should Keitany and Cheruiyot overestimate each other on Sunday on the hilly and not easy to run route, which has already happened to Keitany several times in New York, Shalane Flanagan could come back into play. The 37-year-old 10,000 meter Olympic runner-up in 2008 celebrated the biggest victory of her career a year ago in Central Park. That spring, she was sixth in the freezing Boston Marathon. Shalane Flanagan may end her career on Sunday.

“I am not sure yet. I can only say that when I have crossed the finish line, ”explained the 2016 Olympic marathon sixth who achieved a best time of 2:21:14 hours. The group of favorites includes the two Ethiopians Mamitu Daska (best time: 2:21:59 h) and Rahma Tusa (2:23:46 h) and Desiree Linden. The American won the Boston Marathon in April and has a best time of 2:22:28 hours.

The favorites of the 2018 New York Marathon

MEN:
Tamirat Tola (ETH; 2:04:06 h)
Lelisa Desisa (ETH; 2:04:45 h)
Shura Kitata (ETH; 2:04:49 h)
Daniel Wanjiru (KEN; 2:05:21 h)
Geoffrey Kamworor (KEN; 2:06:12 h)
Festus Talam (KEN; 2:06:13 h)

WOMEN:
Mary Keitany (KEN; 2:17:01 h)
Vivian Cheruiyot (KEN; 2:18:31 h)
Shalane Flanagan (USA; 2:21:14 h)
Mamitu Daska (ETH; 2:21:59 h)
Desiree Linden (USA; 2:22:28 h)
Rahma Tusa (ETH; 2:23:46 h)

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