Sheila Chepkirui wins maiden New York City Marathon in Kenyan podium sweep

Kenya's Sheila Chepkirui won the New York Marathon women's title in her race debut on Sunday, capturing the crown in an unofficial time of two hours, 24 minutes and 35 seconds.

The 33-year-old, who had never won a major marathon title before, did the unthinkable in the last mile of a rather sunny race to outkick defending champion Hellen Obiri and take the momentous win.

Obiri, seeking to win her second race in Central Park, was 14 seconds back in second, with Vivian Cheruiyot completing a Kenyan podium sweep in 2:25:21.

Evans Chebet settles for second

Meanwhile in the men's race, 2022 New York Marathon champion Evans Chebet was stunned by Abdi Nageeye of the Netherlands to come home second in a time of 2:07:45.

The Kenyan, 35, looked to be on course for a routine victory on a familiar course going on into the last mile of a heated race, before the Somali-born Dutchman Nageeye put on the afterburners to romp into victory in 2:07:39.

Another Kenyan, Albert Korir, was third in 2:08:00.

Chepkirui with memorable win

Going by the pre-race predictions, many athletics fans expected a showdown between two previous course champions in Obiri and fellow Kenyan Sharon Lokedi.

But in a race that burned slowly and referred to as that of "attrition", debutant Chepkirui kept her place in the leading park all through when they were 20 women at the halfway stage, and even when the number shrunk to 16 as they crossed the mute Street Bridge.

With 18 miles to go 10 women were still within touching distance, including heavyweights Lokedi and Obiri.

Veteran Cheruiyot, 41, then stretched her legs in the lead at the 33 km mark, dropping Lokedi (rather surprisingly), Eunice Chumba, and lastly another favorite in Ethiopia's Senbere Teferi.

The strike for a winner therefore was left between Cheruiyot, Obiri and the overlooked Chepkirui, who seemed determined to claim a maiden major marathon win after coming close in a second-place finish in Berlin a year ago.

Cheruiyot, who had taken a break to have her second child, looked content with a third place finish when she kept looking backwards, and so the battle between Obiri and Chepkirui ensued.

Grinning through the on-looking crowd, Chepkirui kept a steady but tight lead over Obiri, who was on her shoulders and favoring the right side of the road.

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But Chepkirui was not to be stopped here, injecting pace in the final mile to leave Obiri in her wake and outdo the mistress of close finishes seen twice in Boston, New York, and a podium place at the Paris Olympic Games.

Lokedi would later cross the line seventh clocking 2:27:45.

Tough Nageeye tricks out Chebet

Chebet seemed to stir the waters of another slow-burner early on through the 25-km mark when he descended Street Bridge with an intention to drop some key contenders.

The move, one with clear intent, didn't bear fruits however, as six men still remained in the lead group two kilometers later including Olympic champion Tamirat Tola, two-time New York marathon champion Geoffrey Kamworor, Albert Korir, and Nageeye, who earlier this year set a national record in a win in Rotterdam.

At 21 miles, fancied Tola and Korir dropped off, leaving a group of three men that later shrunk to two as they entered the last two miles.

In hindsight, all Nageeye wanted to do was stay in Chebet's shadow, never to be broken, and take a chance late.

The Dutchman played his cards right as they entered the final turn on 59th Street, taking a step on Chebet that he never recovered from to take an emphatic victory.