Hellen Obiri set a women’s course record to win the New York City Marathon on Sunday while her fellow Kenyan, Benson Kipruto, won the men’s race by edging Alexander Mutiso by less than a second.
Obiri, who also won the race in 2023, finished in two hours, 19 minutes and 51 seconds. Obiri was running with 2022 winner Sharon Lokedi until she pulled away from her countrymate in the final mile, surging ahead and winning easily, besting the previous course record of 2:22:31 set by Margaret Okayo in 2003. Defending champion Sheila Chepkirui finished third. All three beat the previous course best.
“We had a very strong field,” said Obiri, who won an extra $50,000 for breaking the course record. “[I told myself] let me try to do my best, let me push.”