Because the TCS New York Metropolis Marathon, the 12 months’s closing main marathon, approaches, it’s anticipated to host probably the most aggressive ladies’s subject ever, comprising world champions, Olympic champions, world file holders and former NYC marathon winners. May this be the 12 months that Margaret Okayo’s course file of two:22:31 (from 2003) is lastly damaged?

If what we’ve seen to this point this 12 months is any indication, we predict it won’t stand previous Sunday. First there was ‘s spectacular debut, profitable first London (in April) after which Chicago (in October). In September, Tigist Assefa shattered the ladies’s world file in Berlin with an jaw-dropping 2:11:53.

On condition that it’s been 20 years because the course file was final damaged in New York, the timing appears proper. The ladies’s elite subject is filled with expertise, together with the 2020 Tokyo Olympic marathon champion and 2021 NYC champion Peres Jepchirchir, , 2023 Boston Marathon champion ladies’s 10,000m world file holder Letesenbet Gidey, reigning world champion Amane Beriso and the third-fastest girl in historical past and former world file holder, Brigid Kosgei. The 2023 ladies’s elite race in NYC boasts the calibre of an Olympic or world marathon, with the very best athletes competing on the largest marathon main stage.

So who’s the favorite?

Any of those six ladies might win on Sunday, however it’s difficult to miss Obiri’s power and ability. Final 12 months, the 33-year-old Kenyan made her marathon debut in NYC, falling in need of her objectives. She revealed struggles with fueling and an imperfect bodily situation for the race. Shortly after the 2022 World Championships, she relocated from Kenya to Boulder, Colo., becoming a member of the On Athletics Membership beneath the steering of coach Dathan Ritzenhein.

Amid excessive expectations resulting from her profitable monitor profession and quite a few world cross-country championships, Obiri completed sixth, in 2:25:49. Nevertheless, she made a outstanding comeback, clinching victory in Boston in April. When requested about taking part within the 2023 World Athletics Championships after her Boston triumph, Obiri declared her focus was on returning to NYC and profitable.

Through the athlete press convention on Thursday, her coach, Ritzenhein, mentioned she’s presently in the very best form he’s ever seen her in. Contemplating her dominant efficiency in Boston, it seems this race is hers to lose.

What about Kosgei and Gidey?

It’s been a minute since we noticed Kenya’s Kosgei and run a marathon. Kosgei hasn’t completed a marathon since March 2022, when she received the Tokyo Marathon. She was one of many favourites heading into London this 12 months (a race she has received twice) however ended up with a DNF. Kosgei held the ladies’s world file till Assefa broke her mark of two:14:04 in Berlin in September. We all know Kosgei is quick, however she hasn’t raced since April, and New York’s sluggish and hilly course could possibly be a problem for her return. 

Gidey involves New York with one marathon on her resume. After a world-record-setting profession on the monitor, Gidey made her extremely awaited debut on the distance final 12 months in Valencia–one of many quickest marathon programs on the planet. Everybody anticipated Gidey to obliterate Kosgei’s world file, and he or she didn’t have a foul debut. Nonetheless, she was humbled by the space, ending second to her compatriot, Beriso, with a time of two:16:49–a file, on the time for the fastest-ever ladies’s marathon debut.

Gidey has had an up-and-down 2023 season, by her personal requirements. She received silver within the ladies’s 10,000m at Worlds and ran sub 14:10 over 5,000m twice, holding the fourth, fifth and sixth quickest ladies’s 5,000m occasions in historical past. Gidey possesses monitor velocity, and if this had been a half-marathon on Sunday, her 10,000m world file and three world cross titles would serve her properly on this undulating course. Nevertheless, in a marathon, relying solely on monitor velocity has its limitations. If the 25-year-old can reveal the stamina wanted for 42.2 km, she would possibly find yourself being the shock winner. Racing towards Obiri, Gidey beforehand bested her for gold within the 10,000m on the 2019 World Athletics Championships in Doha; if the race begins quick, might she outperform Obiri as soon as once more?

The previous champions

It’s been seven years because the NYC marathon final noticed a repeat champion, with Kenya’s Mary Keitany (2015 and 2016), however can final 12 months’s champ, Lokedi, be part of that unique membership? Final 12 months, Lokedi received the marathon in her debut, which marked the first-ever marathon main win for an Beneath Armour-sponsored athlete. However since her historic triumph, issues have been rocky for Lokedi, who needed to withdraw from the Boston Marathon resulting from a foot harm that took her out for almost all of the season. She says she is again, and needs to defend her NYC title. One factor Lokedi has in her favour as defending champion is confidence. She is aware of the course, which provides her a strategic benefit.

One other former NYC champion making a return to New York is the . Tactically, Jepchirchir is likely to be top-of-the-line racers within the subject, a trait she showcased when she triumphed right here in 2021 and went on to win the Boston Marathon 5 months later. She has received 5 of her final six marathons, and if the tempo units out conservatively on Sunday, it is going to probably favour extra tactical-style racers like her and Obiri. However there are issues, since Jepchirchir is coming back from an harm and isn’t sure she is going to begin on Sunday. Throughout Thursday’s elite press convention, she talked about re-aggravating her calf harm simply earlier than she travelled to New York final week. She’ll make the choice after her closing shakeout run on Saturday.

A darkish horse

Many who’re following the race could have their eyes on Obiri, Gidey or Jepchirchir. Nevertheless, in case you’re in search of a shock in NYC, it’s more likely to come from . Since her victory within the 2022 Mexico Metropolis Marathon in August final 12 months, Beriso has been in unbelievable kind, attaining a formidable 2:14:58 win in Valencia–the fifth-fastest time in historical past. She was additionally the runner-up to Obiri in Boston and securedon the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest in August. Beriso’s latest success suggests she’s in outstanding kind, and it wouldn’t be shocking to see her atop the rostrum once more, which might be a storybook ending to her 12 months.

Tips on how to watch

The 2023 TCS New York Metropolis Marathon can be aired in Canada on TSN, with protection starting at 8:00 a.m. ET Sunday. It’s also possible to stream the occasion dwell on-line by way of the TSN app or by way of TSN.ca/dwell.

All of the motion for the 2023 TCS New York Metropolis Marathon can be dropped at you by Canadian Working and New Stability. Comply with us on  on  for in-depth protection, live-tweeting and up-to-date unique information and content material.