Geoffrey Kamworor relives most impactful race of his career
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Reading Time: 2min | Sat. 04.10.25. | 12:30
The 32-year-old will look to rekindle the emotions of winning a major when he lines up for the Chicago marathon later this month
Three time Half Marathon champion Geoffrey Kamworor labelled the 2019 New York City Marathon as the race that played the biggest role in his athletics career.
Aged 27 on 3 November that year, Kamworor, a former 10,000m silver medalist, produced a thrilling finish in the Big Apple to win in a time of 2:08.13, a victory that he celebrated with training partner Eliud Kipchoge moments after crossing the finish line.
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Now preparing for his first go at this year’s Chicago Marathon slated for Sunday, 12 October, the 32-year-old sat down with his team - NN Running - to look back at the race that still stands as his last victory in a marathon major.
In possession of the gold medal from the 2019 New York Marathon, Kamworor said: “This is really special to me. When I look back, this was the greatest marathon I ran and won.”
Having already conquered the race in 2017, Kamworor stamped his authority once again at Central Park, when with only three miles to go, did damage on his closest challengers - Albert Korir and Girma Bekele Gebre - ultimately winning by 26 seconds.
“I still remember the day, it was good,” Kamworor said. “After the win there were many celebrations. Going to the podium as a winner and being awarded the medal was really a joyous moment.”
On the significance of the win, the 2025 Rotterdam Marathon champion said: “The race really played a big role in my career because winning a city marathon and a major marathon reminds me always to work hard, and motivates me to win more marathons in the future.”
Since that win however, Kamworor, who in 2018 won his third straight half marathon title in Valencia, has not yet laid a hand on another major marathon crown.
An unfortunate period of setbacks - a hit by a motorcycle in 2020 and an ankle injury the following year - briefly halted his run, but buoyed by his strong comeback, the man ranked 40th in the world in men’s marathon is ready for bigger achievements.
“Going into the future, I still have got many big dreams, of winning many major marathons,”Kamworor, whose personal best is the 2:04.23 he set while finishing second to the late Kelvin Kiptum in London two years ago, said.
“I am still motivated and working hard to achieve more in future marathons. That is where my focus is at now.”
In Chicago, he will have to fend off an elite field that consists of defending champion John Korir, Timothy Kiplagat, Amos Kipruto and Cybrian Kotut, to rekindle a familiar feeling.
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