Kenyan Marathoner Hellen Obiri Smashes Women's TCS New York City Marathon Record with Dominant Performance
In a resounding display of speed and endurance, Kenyan athlete Hellen Obiri shattered the women's record at the TCS New York City Marathon on Sunday, breaking a 23-year-old mark set by Margaret Okayo in 2002. The 35-year-old Obiri completed the grueling 26.2-mile course in an impressive 2 hours, 19 minutes, and 51 seconds.
Obiri's victory was not only a testament to her own exceptional talent but also a demonstration of Kenya's dominance in women's distance running. She was joined on the podium by fellow countrywoman Sharon Lokedi, who finished second with a time of 2:20:07, and Sheila Chepkiriu, who claimed third place with a time of 2:20:24.
Despite being nearly three minutes ahead of Okayo's record time, Obiri's performance was all the more remarkable given that she was running on American soil for the first time. In contrast to her previous performances at major marathons like Paris and Boston, where she ran under a net downhill course, this time around saw her navigate a traditional marathon terrain.
Obiri's impressive display came after a fierce battle with Lokedi in the final miles of the race. The two women went toe-to-toe in the backstretch before Obiri surged ahead to take control. This victory marked another milestone in Obiri's already impressive career, which includes her 2023 New York City Marathon win and runner-up finish at Boston this year.
Obiri's performance was also notable for the strong field of American runners that competed in the women's division. Fiona O'Keeffe, who finished fourth overall with a time of 2:22:49, clocked a personal best time that marked her second-best performance since her Olympic-qualifying run in February 2024.
The men's race also saw a thrilling finish, with Kenyan Benson Kipruto claiming the top spot in a wild sprint to the line over fellow countryman Alexander Mutiso. The victory marked another milestone for Kenya in major marathons, as it claimed an all-Kenyan podium for the first time at New York City.
Overall, Obiri's dominant performance at the TCS New York City Marathon solidified her status as one of the world's top distance runners and set a new benchmark for women's marathon competition.
In a resounding display of speed and endurance, Kenyan athlete Hellen Obiri shattered the women's record at the TCS New York City Marathon on Sunday, breaking a 23-year-old mark set by Margaret Okayo in 2002. The 35-year-old Obiri completed the grueling 26.2-mile course in an impressive 2 hours, 19 minutes, and 51 seconds.
Obiri's victory was not only a testament to her own exceptional talent but also a demonstration of Kenya's dominance in women's distance running. She was joined on the podium by fellow countrywoman Sharon Lokedi, who finished second with a time of 2:20:07, and Sheila Chepkiriu, who claimed third place with a time of 2:20:24.
Despite being nearly three minutes ahead of Okayo's record time, Obiri's performance was all the more remarkable given that she was running on American soil for the first time. In contrast to her previous performances at major marathons like Paris and Boston, where she ran under a net downhill course, this time around saw her navigate a traditional marathon terrain.
Obiri's impressive display came after a fierce battle with Lokedi in the final miles of the race. The two women went toe-to-toe in the backstretch before Obiri surged ahead to take control. This victory marked another milestone in Obiri's already impressive career, which includes her 2023 New York City Marathon win and runner-up finish at Boston this year.
Obiri's performance was also notable for the strong field of American runners that competed in the women's division. Fiona O'Keeffe, who finished fourth overall with a time of 2:22:49, clocked a personal best time that marked her second-best performance since her Olympic-qualifying run in February 2024.
The men's race also saw a thrilling finish, with Kenyan Benson Kipruto claiming the top spot in a wild sprint to the line over fellow countryman Alexander Mutiso. The victory marked another milestone for Kenya in major marathons, as it claimed an all-Kenyan podium for the first time at New York City.
Overall, Obiri's dominant performance at the TCS New York City Marathon solidified her status as one of the world's top distance runners and set a new benchmark for women's marathon competition.
Hellen Obiri just absolutely crushed it out there! 2 hours and 19 minutes is insane, especially considering she was running on American soil for the first time 
. I mean, that downhill course in Paris doesn't compare to this traditional terrain, and you can tell it made a difference - she had to dig deep to break that 23-year-old record 
. Kenya's dominance in women's distance running is real, but Obiri taking it to the next level like this? 
She's got some serious skills! And I love how the American runners pushed her hard in the final miles - it made for an epic battle on the course 
. This just solidifies why she's one of the world's top distance runners, and we can't wait to see what she does next! 
. obiri is still crushin it! 
she is literally a marathon queen! breaking that record is no easy feat, especially running on american soil for the first time 
always so dominant on the track or trail! obiri is like a superstar now, breaking records left and right 
her career is totally on fire 
can't wait to see what's next for her!!
. our kenyan athletes never fail to impress me 
. the fact that she was running against all those strong americans and still took top spot is just amazing 
. i'm hyped for her next competition already 
. and let's not forget about the other athletes who crushed it - Fiona O'Keeffe's personal best is like a reminder that growth happens outside of our comfort zones 
.
. It's amazing to see Kenya dominatin' the women's distance runnin', they always have such talented athletes 
but u gotta wonder wut's goin on w/ kenya's running talent 
Hellen Obiri just CRUSHED it in NYC! 2 hours, 19 minutes, & 51 seconds is insane! I mean, she was already the favorite to win but dominating like that? Respect. And did you see Sharon Lokedi's time? That's some serious competition. But let's be real, Hellen was on another level today 
. I mean, 2 hours, 19 minutes, and 51 seconds? That's insane! 
. And let's not forget Sharon Lokedi and Sheila Chepkiriu, who both had amazing performances too 
.
23 years old record crushed like that 
35 years young and still crushing it 
23 years old record just crazy she was gonna get that record anyway she's been dominating marathons for years and her form is on point 
. Plus, it's great to see Kenyans dominating in major marathons, they're basically the queens of long-distance running 
. Obiri's career is looking super bright, and I'm excited to see what she does next 
.
Let's give some love to those runners who aren't getting the recognition they deserve 
.