Obiri, Lokedi to square up once again in New York City Marathon as field is announced

Days after delivering a heroic performance on the streets of Paris, it is now official that Kenya’s three-time Olympic medalist Hellen Obiri, will make her return to the New York City marathon, where she will aim to defend the title she won last year.

Obiri, who in 2023 produced a late kick to fend off Ethiopia’s Letesenbet Gidey to become the first woman in 34 years to win both Boston and New York marathons, in the same calendar year, was on Tuesday confirmed to be in a thrilling line-up for the race scheduled for 3 November.

Having defended her Boston marathon crown already, it could be a fantastic double for the 34-year-old, but she will have to fend off a familiar name in 2022 champion Sharon Lokedi, who is also in contention.

The two Kenyans have crossed paths in recent marathons, with the latest being at the Paris Olympics, where Obiri came third despite falling twice and missing two drink stations, while Lokedi, who was part of the leading park, fell behind to finish an impressive fourth in her Team Kenya debut.

Paris Oympics: Obiri bags bronze in tough women's marathon

The pair also dueled at this year’s Boston Marathon, and Lokedi was third in the aforementioned epic finish in New York last year.

“There’s no place like New York, and I am so ready to defend my title,” Obiri told World Athletics. “I have been racing very well on the roads in the US, and I hope I can have another good day that sees me in contention once we enter the final stages in Central Park.”

Joining the Kenyan contingent will be the stunning pair of 2010 champion Edna Kiplagat, four-time Olympic medalist Vivian Cheruiyot, and Sheila Chepkirui, who owns the fastest personal best in the field with a time of 2:17:29 set in Valencia in 2022.

Ethiopia’s Tirunesh Dibaba, on the other hand, will make her New York City Marathon debut, and will be joined by compatriot Senbere Teferi.

Dibaba, a three-time Olympic champion, is looking for her first marathon finish since running 2:18:55 at the 2018 Berlin Marathon.

She ran 31:04 for 10K on the roads in Madrid in June.

Dakotah Lindwurm, the top US finisher in the marathon at the Paris Olympics, will meanwhile lead the US contingent, and will be joined by notable debutant Jess McClain.