Press Release: 17 Olympians, 11 World Championships Medalists, and Six Past Champions to Highlight Decorated Open Division at 2023 TCS New York City Marathon on November 5

Defending champion Evans Chebet to challenge two-time winner Geoffrey Kamworor in men’s race; Edward Cheserek to make 26.2-mile debut

 Molly Huddle and Kellyn Taylor to lead American women; Letesenbet Gidey to run first TCS New York City Marathon

New York, August 29, 2023 – The TCS New York City Marathon open division field on Sunday, November 5 will feature 17 Olympians, 11 World Championships medalists, and six past event champions, including defending champion Evans Chebet, two-time champion Geoffrey Kamworor, and World Championships medalist Maru Teferi in the men’s race, and Olympic and World Championships medalist Letesenbet Gidey, U.S. Olympian Molly Huddle, and the top six finishers from 2022 in the women’s race.

Men’s Open Division

The men’s open division will be led by defending champion Chebet of Kenya, who won the TCS New York City Marathon in his debut last year in 2:08:41, seven months after winning the Boston Marathon. He became the eighth man in history to win both races in the same year and the first since 2011. Chebet already defended his Boston title earlier this year and has finished first or second in 13 marathons.

“I feel very confident as I begin my preparations to defend my TCS New York City Marathon title,” Chebet said. “I understand that nobody has won Boston and New York in back-to-back years since Bill Rodgers in the 1970’s, so making history will be my aim.”

Challenging Chebet will be Kamworor, a Kenyan Olympian and three-time half marathon world champion who is looking to become only the third athlete to win three TCS New York City Marathon men’s open division titles. He won in both 2019 and 2017, and has made the podium in all four of his appearances.

The 2023 World Athletics Championships marathon silver medalist Teferi, two-time World Championships silver medalist Mosinet Geremew of Ethiopia, Olympic silver medalist Abdi Nageeye of the Netherlands, 2021 TCS New York City Marathon champion Albert Korir of Kenya, two-time TCS New York City Marathon runner-up Shura Kitata of Ethiopia, North America’s marathon record-holder Cam Levins of Canada, and 2023 United Airlines NYC Half podium finisher Zouahir Talbi of Morocco will also toe the line.

Kenya’s Edward Cheserek – a former New Jersey high school phenom and the most decorated athlete in NCAA history – will make his 26.2-mile debut, while the American contingent will be led by 2022 USATF Marathon champion Futsum Zienasellaissie and 2021 TCS New York City Marathon fourth-place finisher Elkanah Kibet.

Women’s Open Division

Along with previously announced TCS New York City Marathon champion Sharon Lokedi, Boston Marathon and United Airlines NYC Half champion Hellen Obiri, Olympic gold medalist and 2021 TCS New York City Marathon champion Peres Jepchirchir, and marathon world-record holder Brigid Kosgei, all top six finishers from last year’s women’s race will return.

In addition to Lokedi and Obiri, last year’s runner-up and two-time Olympian and World Championships medalist Lonah Chemtai Salpeter of Israel, as well as third-place finisher and two-time World Championships medalist Gotytom Gebreslase of Ethiopia will be back. Kenyans Edna Kiplagat – a New York City, Boston, London and World Championships Marathon winner – and Olympian Viola Cheptoo will also return.

Ethiopia’s Olympic and World Championships medalist Gidey, the 10,000-meter and half marathon world-record holder, recorded the fastest women’s marathon debut in history last year (2:16:49) in Valencia and will make her TCS New York City Marathon debut. Yalemzerf Yehualaw, a World Championships bronze medalist and the 2022 London Marathon winner, will also line up for the first time.

Leading the American women will be two-time Olympian and three-time United Airlines NYC Half champion Huddle, who will be racing her third TCS New York City Marathon after finishing third in 2016 and fourth in 2018. She will be joined by Kellyn Taylor, who has finished in the top 10 in all three of her TCS New York City Marathon appearances, including sixth in 2021.

“I’m really excited to return to the TCS New York City Marathon, my first time back at the race since 2018 and my first marathon anywhere since becoming a mom,” Huddle said. “I think the nature of the New York course and the way the race typically unfolds suits me really well this fall, and it will be cool to head back to where my marathon career all started – on the streets of New York.”

The 2023 TCS New York City Marathon women’s professional athlete field is presented by Mastercard®.

The 2023 TCS New York City Marathon on Sunday, November 5 will have 50,000 runners and be televised live on WABC-TV Channel 7 in the New York tristate area, throughout the rest of the nation on ESPN2, and around the world by various international broadcasters. 

The 2023 TCS New York City Marathon on Sunday, November 5 will have 50,000 runners and be televised live on WABC-TV Channel 7 in the New York tristate area, throughout the rest of the nation on ESPN2, and around the world by various international broadcasters.

Professional Athlete Field – Men’s Open Division 

Professional Athlete Field – Women’s Open Division

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About New York Road Runners (NYRR)

NYRR’s mission is to help and inspire people through running. Since 1958, New York Road Runners has grown from a local running club to the world’s premier community running organization. NYRR’s commitment to New York City’s five boroughs features races, virtual races, community events, free youth running initiatives and school programs, the NYRR RUNCENTER featuring the New Balance Run Hub, and training resources that provide hundreds of thousands of people each year with the motivation, know-how, and opportunity to Run for Life. NYRR’s premier event is the TCS New York City Marathon. Held annually on the first Sunday in November, the race features a wide population of runners, from the world’s top professional athletes to a vast range of competitive, recreational, and charity runners. To learn more, visit www.nyrr.org.

Contact:

NYRR Media Relations

Stuart Lieberman (o): 212.548.7332 (c): 646.770.6987 (e): slieberman@nyrr.org