The New York Marathon's thrilling conclusion saw Benson Kipruto emerge victorious in a classic photo finish, with Eliud Kipchoge announcing his final tour. Benson Kipruto's determination paid off as he sprinted to victory, crossing the finish line in 2 hours, 8 minutes, and 9 seconds. The race was a nail-biter, with Kipruto narrowly beating Alexander Mutiso by less than two-tenths of a second. The 2021 champion, Albert Korir, took third place with a time of 2:08:57.
Kipruto's triumph was a testament to his endurance, as he pushed through the final stretch with unwavering focus. "It was an incredible experience," he shared in a televised interview, "The final part was incredibly challenging, but I gave it my all to secure the win."
This victory marked Kipruto's fourth major title, showcasing his prowess in the marathon. The race's climax saw Kipruto and Mutiso neck-and-neck at the 25-mile mark, with Kipruto seemingly in control. However, Mutiso mounted a late charge, prompting Kipruto to accelerate through the final straight, much to the delight of the crowd in Central Park.
The New York Marathon's sprint finish mirrored a recent trend in elite marathons, with Alphonce Felix Simbu winning the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo by a mere 0.003 seconds. Kenya dominated the day, sweeping both the men's and women's podiums. Hellen Obiri, the Paris bronze medallist, claimed the women's race in a course-record time of 2:19:51, her fourth major title. Obiri's triumph was all the more remarkable, as she ran shoulder-to-shoulder with runner-up Sharon Lokedi (2:20:07) and pulled away in the final stretch.
The wheelchair division also witnessed a record-breaking performance. Switzerland's Marcel Hug secured a record-extending seventh title in the men's race, finishing in 1:30:16, while American Susannah Scaroni won the women's race in 1:42:10.
Eliud Kipchoge, the only man to break the 2-hour barrier in the marathon, finished 17th in 2:14:36. Despite speculation that New York could be his final competitive marathon, Kipchoge announced plans for a two-year mission, the 'Eliud Kipchoge World Tour', involving seven marathons across seven continents. Before the race, he expressed his intention to run for a purpose, including a potential race in Antarctica.
Kipchoge's ambition is to achieve the Seven Star award, given to runners who complete the marathons in Tokyo, Boston, London, Sydney, Berlin, Chicago, and New York City. Sydney was named a major for the first time this year, adding to the prestige of the World Marathon Majors series. However, the series was marred by a doping scandal, with Kenyan Ruth Chepngetich banned for three years for admitting to anti-doping rule violations.
