New York City Half Marathon attracts large field of 25,000 athletes
More than 25,000 runners have signed up to take part in the United Airlines New York City Half Marathon this Sunday.
The race will bring together professional athletes from 15 different countries, including 17 Olympians, 12 Paralympians and seven champions from past events. This will make it one of the most diverse fields in the race’s history.
The men’s open division will be headlined by Olympic champion Joshua Cheptegei, half-marathon world-record holder Jacob Kiplimo and Olympic medalist Galen Rupp among others.
Defending champion Senbere Teferi, Olympic and World Championships medalist Hellen Obiri, and two-time U.S. Olympian and three-time event champion Molly Huddle will lead the women’s open division.
Obiri clinched the first position during the 16th edition, held last month, of Ras Al Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates after timing 1:05:05 ahead of Ethiopians Gotytom Gebreslase who clocked 1:05:51 and Ftaw Zeray (1:06:04) who came in second and third positions respectively.
Last year, she started her season by coming in second at the Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon in February, before winning Istanbul Half Marathon held in March. She then went ahead to compete at the World Championships in Oregon, USA in the 10,000m race where she won the silver medal.
Huddle will be racing the United Airlines NYC Half Marathon for the first time since taking her third consecutive victory in the event in 2017. The former American record-holder in the half marathon was fifth at the Houston Half Marathon in January, nine months after giving birth to her daughter.
“The United Airlines NYC Half is one of the world’s premier half marathons and presents one of the most iconic race courses to participants. Together with our city agency and event partners, New York Road Runners (NYRR) is providing our participants an opportunity to navigate two boroughs and see New York City by foot,” said Ted Metellus, NYRR’s Senior Vice President of Events and Race Director.
