My favorite Summer Olympic event is the one traditionally held last, the marathon. My appreciation of the marathon goes back to my time living in Northern Virginia. On the last Sunday of October every year, the Marine Corps Marathon is run through the streets of D.C. and Arlington. It was one of my favorite days of the year. I would run the Marine Corps 10K, swing by Dunkin for a celebratory coffee and donut, and then go cheer on the runners as they passed through the Pentagon City neighborhood.

I’ve never been a particularly quick runner. By the time I was able to start cheering, the fastest runners had already crossed the finish. The runners still on the course were the ones who found time in their busy schedules to train and who were out there for no other reason than pride. As I stood there cheering, some ran by while others limped or hobbled. Seeing that for the better part of a decade made me appreciate what it took to run a marathon.

This appreciation led me to be interested in other marathons. I started watching the Olympic Time Trials. On Patriot’s Day, I started commandeering the nearest TV at work to keep track of the Boston Marathon. In November, I began settling on the couch with my coffee to watch runners take on the Big Apple. I started developing favorite races to watch. Marine Corps will always be my favorite because of all the time I spent watching and cheering along the course. Boston comes in second because of the way the race is integrated into city’s personality and culture.

Then there is the New York City Marathon. With New York, the course provides the appeal. From starting out on the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge heading from Staten Island into Brooklyn, to Thunder Alley in Manhattan, and finishing in Central Park, what isn’t there to love about this course. Even over TV, the sheer majesty of the course is clear.

In addition to the beautiful course, the field in the New York City Marathon is always distinguished. This year is no different. The elite field features 29 Olympians (15 men/14 women). Combined these 29 runners account for 67 Olympic appearances and 19 medals (5 Gold, 6 Silver, 8 Bronze). At least one runner in the field has taken part in every Olympics going back to the 2000 Sydney Games.

Among the prominent Olympians in the Men’s Elite Field are:

Eliud Kipchoge – The marathon’s world record holder headlines this year’s field for the first time. Kipchoge is a five-time Olympian and four-time medalist, winning bronze in the 5000 meters in Athens, silver in the 5000 in Beijing, gold in the marathon in Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo. Kipchoge didn’t finish the Paris marathon, marking his first withdrawal at that distance. Overall, he has run 25 marathons, winning 16 and finishing second once.  Among the World Major Marathons, he has won Berlin five times, London four times, and Tokyo and Chicago once each. This is his first New York City Marathon.

Benson Kipruto – Kipruto won the bronze medal in the marathon last year in Paris during his first Olympic appearance. In total, he has run 16 marathons, finishing in the top three quarters of the time.  Kipruto finished first in Toronto in 2018, Prague and Boston in 2021, Chicago in 2022, and Tokyo in 2024. This is his first New York City Marathon.

Deresa Geleta – Geleta participated in his first Olympics last year and finished fifth in a time of 2:07:31. In addition to the Olympics, Galeta has run one of the World Major Marathons, finishing second in this year’s Tokyo Marathon.

Abdi Nageeye – Nageeye is the reigning New York City Marathon Men’s champion. He is a three-time Olympian. He debuted at the Rio Olympics, where he finished 11^th in the marathon. At the Tokyo Olympics, he won the silver medal in a time in 2:09:58. Nageeye’s follow up at the Paris Olympics was not nearly as successful as he didn’t finish the race. Across all competitions Nageeye has attempted 12 marathons. He’s run New York four times previously with his best finishes coming last year (1^st) and in 2022 (3^rd).   

The Women’s Elite field is highlighted by:

Sifan Hassan – The reigning Olympic marathon champion is a multiple medal winner in multiple Olympics. In Rio de Janeiro, she competed in the 800 meters and 1500 meters. At the COVID delayed Tokyo Games, Hassan won bronze in the 1500 meters and gold in both the 5000 and 10000 meters. Last year in Paris, she brought home the bonze in the 5000 and 10000 meters and gold in the marathon. In addition to the Olympic marathon, Hassan has run five other marathons since 2023 winning three and never finishing lower than fourth. Her winning 2023 Chicago time of 2:12:44 is the third fast women’s time ever.

Sharon Lokedi – Lokedi debuted at the Olympics in Paris last year where she finished fourth in a time of 2:23:14. She is past NYC marathoner, winning her debut at 26.2 miles in 2022. Earlier this year, she took first in the Boston Marathon.

Hellen Obiri – Debuting in London, Obiri is a four-time Olympian and three-time medalist. In London, she competed in the 1500 meters.  Four years later in Rio, Obiri won the silver in the 5000 meters. In Tokyo, she won silver in the 5000 meters and finished fourth in the 10000 meters. Last year in Paris, Obiri claimed bronze in marathon. This will be the fourth time Obiri runs the street of New York. Previously, she finished 6^th (2022), 1^st (2023), and 2^nd (2024). She has won both of her appearances in the Boston Marathon (2023 and 2024).

Molly Seidel – Seidel won the bronze at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. She did not participate in the 2024 US Olympic Marathon Trials due to a broken patella and partially torn patella tendon. Seidel ran New York once before, finishing 4th in 2021.  She finished 8^th in Chicago in 2023, was unable to finish Boston in 2022, and finished 6th in London in 2020.

Olympians in the Men’s Field:

• Eliud Kipchoge
• Benson Kipruto
• Deresa Geleta
• Abdi Nageeye   
• Alphonce Simbu
• Sondre Nordstad Moen
• Felix Bour
• Matthias Kyburz
• Pat Tiernan
• Daniele Meucci
• Yemane Haileselassie
• Hillary Bor
• Patrick Dever
• Charles Philibert-Thiboutot
• Joe Klecker

Olympians in the Women’s Field:

• Sifan Hassan
• Emily Sisson
• Molly Seidel
• Fiona O’Keeffe
• Sharon Lokedi
• Hellen Obiri
• Vivian Cheruiyot
• Edna Kiplagat
• Sara Hall
• Fionnuala McCormack
• Eilish McColgan
• Fabienne Schlumpf
• Karoline Bjerkeli Grøvdal
• Jessica Warner-Judd

If I Had To Pick a Winner:

Trying to pick a winner of a marathon is near impossible. Some blindfolded, throwing darts at a list of names has about the same chance of picking the winner as someone who thinks they know. Still, I’m going to try any way.

Men’s Field Pick: The men’s field is deep which is why I think one of the elite runners who has yet to qualify for the Olympics takes it.

Women’s Field Pick: Hellen Obiri – The women’s field is also quite deep. Looking at her past results in New York, the course seems comfortable for Obiri. I think she wins a close one.

Highest finishing American Pick: Molly Seidel. I’ll say she finished 4th.

Enjoy race day.