On a crisp Sunday that will live long in marathon memory, the script of the New York City Marathon Kenyan Success was written with irresistible clarity. Kenya claimed every step of the podium in both the women’s and men’s races, a showcase of depth and poise that turned Central Park’s finish into a celebration of red, green, and black.
Obiri rewrites the record book
Hellen Obiri reclaimed the women’s crown with ruthless precision, stopping the clock in a course record 2:19:51. She led compatriots Sharon Lokedi and Sheila Chepkirui to a 1-2-3 finish, turning an already elite performance into a statement about Kenyan dominance on the streets of New York.
The scale of Obiri’s achievement is striking. She erased a 22-year-old mark, surpassing the 2:22:31 standard set by Margaret Okayo in 2003, and she did it with control and conviction. It was the fourth major title of her career and her second triumph in New York after her victory in 2023, a powerful rebuttal in a year after she had ceded the title to Sheila Chepkirui. The fact that Lokedi at 2:20:07 and Chepkirui at 2:20:24 finished inside the previous course record time added sheen to a historic day for Kenyan women, and underlined the course record was not an outlier but a collective surge.
Women’s podium and times
- Hellen Obiri 2:19:51,
- Sharon Lokedi 2:20:07,
- Sheila Chepkirui 2:20:24.
There was tangible reward for the brilliance. Obiri earned Sh19.36 million, a sum comprising Sh12.3 million for the victory and Sh6.46 million as a course record bonus. Lokedi collected Sh7.75 million, while Chepkirui received Sh5.168 million, a fitting acknowledgment of a sweep that also redefined the record books.
A men’s finish to remember
If the women’s race was a study in relentless pace, the men’s finish provided pure drama. Benson Kipruto and Alexander Mutiso hit the final stretch shoulder to shoulder, their strides locked in rhythm, and it took a photo to separate them at the line. Both were timed at 2:08:09, a testament to a duel that distilled the race into seconds and heartbeats and a photo finish that will be replayed for years.
Kipruto, the 2024 Tokyo Marathon champion, emerged as the winner by the narrowest of margins. Mutiso, the 2024 London Marathon champion, took second. Albert Korir, a familiar force in New York with a win in 2021 and runner-up finishes in 2019 and 2023, closed out the all-Kenyan podium in 2:08:57, a result that confirmed the breadth of Kenyan strength.
Men’s podium and times
- Benson Kipruto 2:08:09,
- Alexander Mutiso 2:08:09,
- Albert Korir 2:08:57.
The day’s competitive excellence brought significant prizes. Kipruto took the winner’s purse of Sh12.3 million, Mutiso earned Sh7.75 million, and Korir pocketed Sh5.168 million, a financial mirror to a podium that belonged entirely to Kenya.
How the men’s race unfolded
The opening stages were cagey but brisk, with five athletes clearing the first 15 kilometers in 46:01. That lead group featured Kenyan-born American Hillary Bor alongside Benson Kipruto, Abel Kipchumba and Albert Korir, while Alexander Mutiso and Eliud Kipchoge hovered a second behind, measuring the effort and waiting for the race to sharpen.
At the halfway mark, the rhythm changed again. Japanese runner Yudai Fukuda guided a large pack of around 20 athletes through 21.1 kilometers in 1:05:18, a passage that suggested patience and positioning would be as decisive as outright speed. The leaders were content to keep the group compact, saving their surges for the late miles.
Hillary Bor then injected a burst of intent. He sprinted clear at 25 kilometers in 1:17:53, opening a two-second gap as Mutiso, Korir, Kipchumba, Kipruto and Kipchoge followed in formation. Further back, Kenenisa Bekele sat 23rd, 30 seconds off the pace, evidence of the relentless tempo and the constant reshuffling of contenders.
The pack reformed and then tightened. Seven athletes, led at turns by Korir and Kipruto, crossed 30 kilometers in 1:32:21 and hit 35 kilometers in 1:47:37, the prelude to the decisive move. From there Kipruto and Mutiso broke clear, matching each other stride for stride over the final two kilometers and setting the stage for a finish that needed the camera to declare a winner.
| CASINO | BONUS | INFO | RATING | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
bonus
1st deposit bonus
See 11 Bonuses
|
info
20+ crash & instant games, Aviator bonuses BK 0000704 |
|
||
|
bonus
Free Spins Frenzy
See 4 Bonuses
|
info
OGL/2024/137/0132 secure platform with top casino games & bonuses. |
|
||
|
bonus
WELCOME PACKAGE UP TO 190000 KES + 150 FS
See 10 Bonuses
|
info
Experience the thrill of our casino! Spin, win, and enjoy top-notch games anytime ALSI-202411073-FI2 |
|
||
|
bonus
First Bonus: 200% Deposit Bonus
See 3 Bonuses
|
info
8048/JAZ2024-001 HunnyPlay is licensed under Curaçao (365/JAZ). Join now and win crypto instantly! |
|
Kipchoge’s milestone in New York
Beyond the podium, Eliud Kipchoge authored a personal milestone that resonated far beyond his 17th place finish in 2:14:36. The marathon legend realized a dream in New York, completing participation and finishes in all the seven World Marathon Majors. On a day dominated by Kenyan podium sweeps, that achievement added a layer of legacy to the narrative, a reminder that greatness can be measured in both titles and journeys.
What the sweep says about Kenyan marathon depth
Clean podium sweeps do not happen by accident, they happen when a nation’s athletes align talent, tactics and timing. New York saw exactly that, with Kenyan stars dictating pace when it mattered, absorbing pressure, then producing the decisive moves. The women’s trio did it through sustained excellence that shattered a long-standing benchmark, while the men distilled a long race into a final charge that only elite composure could win.
This clean sweep also carried symbolism. It linked generations, with Obiri bringing down Okayo’s venerable record, and with new champions like Kipruto and Mutiso sharpening each other to the very line. It showed that Kenyan marathon running is not a single story, but a living tapestry of veterans, champions in their prime, and rising forces who carry the standard forward.
Key numbers at a glance
- Women’s course record 2:19:51 by Hellen Obiri,
- Previous women’s course record 2:22:31 set by Margaret Okayo in 2003,
- Men’s winning time 2:08:09 with a photo finish,
- All-Kenyan podiums in both races,
- Women’s prize money Obiri Sh19.36 million, Lokedi Sh7.75 million, Chepkirui Sh5.168 million,
- Men’s prize money Kipruto Sh12.3 million, Mutiso Sh7.75 million, Korir Sh5.168 million.
