For Kenyan Hellen Obiri of Kenya and Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo it was a winning day in their New York City Half Marathon debutes. winning in 1:07:21 and 1:01:31, respectively.

They finished in 1:07:21 and 1:01:31, respectively. The two Africans prevailed despite cold temperatures and strong winds throughout. Obiri took down Senbere Teferi’s course record from 2022 by 14 seconds.

The women’s race

Obiri led from gun to tape. However, for the first 2K, Obiri and Teferi, as well as Jessica Warner-Judd of the UK and Dutch athlete Diane Van Es as well as Karoline Bjerkeli Grøvdal of Norway tried to form a pack. By the 5K point, only Teferi remained; Van Es and Grøvdal were 20 seconds back.

It was then that Obiri took took the lead in earnest. Teferi attempted to draft Obiri but struggled to keep position and by 10K, which was run in sub-31:30, Teferi was hanging on.

At 15K Teferi was losing touch.

Teferi ended up finishing second in the time of 1:07:35 which matches her performance from 2022. Grøvdal took third in 1:09:53. Van Es finished fourth in 1:10:43. Des Linden, took fifth stopping the clock at 1:12:21. Linden is noted for her 2018 Boston Marathon win in a winter storm. She is also the world 50K record holder 2:59:54 from her 2021 Dorena Lake, Oregon performance.

The men’s race

Interestingly 41-year-old Chris Thompson took the lead from the gun and built up a significant gap through 5K in approximately 15:00. The pre-race favourites from East Africa, bided their time waiting for Thompson to fade.

By the 10K which he passed in just over 30:00, a pack of 16 was just seconds off his back. Thompson was swallowed up, and the race was on.

Jacob Kiplimo sat at the front.

By the 15K marker, Kiplimo started to turn the screws on his competitors who had begun to string out in single file after passing through 10K. Running uphill, Kiplimo had a clean 10 seconds on Ugandan Joshua Cheptegei.

Cheptegei finished second place recording a 1:02:09 performance, while Zouhair Talbi of Morocco took third in the time of 1:02:18.

American Ben True, finished fourth in 1:02:57. He edged Edward Cheserek whofinished in 1:02:58 claiming fifth.

Thompson paid the price for his early lead and finished in 16th place in 1:04:32.

Top Canadians were Rory Linkletter in 15th place in the time of 1:04:21 and Natasha Wodak clocking a 1:12:33 performance. Wodak was the first masters finisher (40-plus).

Dutch athlete Jetze Plat took the wheechair race, clocking a 48:28 finish time. American Susannah Scaroni won the women’s wheelchair in 55:47.

Over 25,000 people took in the gradually-becoming iconic half marathon event.

Results

Top-men

1. Jacob Kiplimo (UGA) – 1:01:31
2. Joshua Cheptegei (UGA) – 1:02:09
3. Zouhair Talbi (MAR) – 1:02:18
4. Ben True (USA) – 1:02:57
5. Edward Cheserek (KEN) – 1:02:58
6. Andrew Butchart (GBR) – 1:02:58
7. Nico Montanez (USA) – 1:03:00
8. Reed Fischer (USA) – 1:03:02
9. Frank Lara (USA) – 1:03:07
10. Teshome Mekonen (USA) – 1:03:08

Top-10 women

1. Hellen Obriri (KEN) – 1:07:21
2. Senebre Teferi (ETH) – 1:07:55
3. Karoline Bjerkeli Grovdal (NOR) – 1:09:53
4. Diane van Es (NED) – 1:10:43
5. Desiree Linden (USA) – 1:12:21
6. Dakotah Lindwurm (USA) – 1:12:25
7. Molly Huddle (USA) – 1:12:27
8. Natasha Wodak (CAN) – 1:12:33
9. Jeralyn Poe (USA) – 1:12:46
10. Erika Kemp (USA) – 1:13:18

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