Evans Chebet shifts focus to busy 2024 after New York disappointment

“I will come back stronger,” is New York Marathon defending champion Evans Chebet’s mindset following the disappointing exit from this year’s race slated for 5 November.

“Defending champion Evans Chebet (Kenya), two-time champion Geoffrey Kamworor (Kenya), two-time world silver medalist Mosinet Geremew (Ethiopia), 2022 world champion Gotytom Gebreslase (Ethiopia), last year’s runner-up Lonah Chemtai Salpeter (Israel) and 2022 London Marathon champion Yalemzerf Yehualaw (Ethiopia) have all scratched from the race,” organizers announced in a statement on 13 October.

Chebet bagged his second Boston Marathon title in April and, in an interview with Mozzart Sport admitted that he was looking to rule the streets of New York next month and defend his title.

His explanation was simple and somewhat expected, “I have an injury.” Pushed for more information, the 34-year-old says that he had picked an injury on his way to his Boston title defense in April and did not give it enough time to heal before going back to training for the November event.

“It was disappointing to have to pull out of New York. I won there on my debut on the course and I was mentally prepared to do it again but I have made peace with the turn of events and shifted focus to next year,” Chebet, the first man since 2013 to win the New York City and Boston Marathons in the same year (2022) offered.

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He continued, “I intend to return to Boston for my third title but my biggest wish is to make the Kenyan team to the Paris Olympics. This would be my first time representing the country and I am confident in my abilities to deliver.”

Chebet’s two victories in Boston and New York last year meant that Kenyan men won all of the six World Marathon Majors that year.

Meanwhile, former champion Albert Korir carries Kenya’s hopes to defend the title alongside compatriot Edward Cheserek who will be making his debut. They will face 2022 World Marathon champion Tamirat Tola who is a late entrant into the race. Tola has finished fourth in his previous two appearances in 2018 and 2019.