Eleven-time World Marathon Majors champion and double Olympic gold medalist Eliud Kipchoge is set to make his debut at the 2025 TCS New York City Marathon, scheduled for Sunday, November 2.
Kipchoge, who won back-to-back Olympic marathon titles at the 2016 Rio and 2020 Tokyo Games—becoming only the third man in history to achieve the feat—is widely regarded as the greatest marathoner of all time.
The 2025 New York City Marathon will start in Staten Island and finish in Central Park, Manhattan.
Eliud Kipchoge Set for Final Major Challenge at 2025 New York City Marathon
The Kenyan superstar has described the upcoming race as “his last big city marathon” and says he is ready to embrace the thrill of the unknown.
Kipchoge, one of only three men to have won two consecutive Olympic marathons, will line up for his first New York race after a record-breaking 12-year career on the roads.
He has not achieved a podium finish since his 2:02:42 victory at the 2023 Berlin Marathon, a year before his late compatriot Kelvin Kiptum shattered the world record with a 2:00:35 run in Chicago.
“I’m really ready to run well. I will be trying to be on the podium; for me, it’s like any other serious, normal race,” Kipchoge told the Olympics.
“I will fight to run in a good way on the streets of New York. It’s not about just participating, it’s about competition.”
It will be a late-season appearance for the 39-year-old, who typically scales down training intensity towards the end of the year. His last outing was a ninth-place finish at the Sydney Marathon on August 31.
“November, and it’s New York… It’s a place that has been on my mind for a long time. It’s time for me to go there and get a Seven Star [award] before embarking on my new journey of running for other things—running for a purpose,” Kipchoge added.
The Seven Star Hall of Fame recognizes runners who have completed all Abbott World Marathon Majors—Tokyo, Boston, London, Sydney, Berlin, Chicago, and New York City.
Stars Kipchoge Will Face in the Race
In New York, Kipchoge will headline a star-studded field that includes his long-time rival Kenenisa Bekele, Dutch defending champion Abdi Nageeye, and Kenyan former champions Evans Chebet and Albert Korir.
Chebet, who in 2022 became the third man to win both the New York City and Boston marathons, will provide a stern test for Kipchoge.
The other prominent Kenyan is 2021 winner Korir, who is aiming for a fourth podium finish at the Big Apple.
Kipchoge’s longtime track rival, Bekele, returns to New York after his last appearance there in 2021, when he finished sixth.
The marathoner’s most successful venue has been Berlin, where he has claimed five titles, including two world records.
The 26.2-mile race through New York’s five boroughs promises a fascinating contest between Kipchoge, Nageeye, and Bekele in their course debuts.
The marathon will also close the World Marathon Majors season, following Jacob Kiplimo and Hawi Feysa’s wins in Chicago, and Sebastian Sawe’s commanding Berlin victory, which came amid a joint AIU–Adidas anti-doping initiative.
Also Read: Eliud Kipchoge Shares His Daily Training Routine and Diet
Prize Money – Men’s and Women’s Elite Races
The New York Road Runners (NYRR) have announced attractive cash prizes for the elite men’s and women’s races.
The winner will take home $100,000 (KSh 12.9 million), while the runner-up will earn $60,000 (KSh 7.75 million).
Meanwhile, the third-place finisher will receive $40,000 (KSh 5.17 million), the fourth-place finisher $25,000 (KSh 3.23 million), and the fifth-place $15,000 (KSh 1.94 million).
Positions six through ten will also be rewarded, with sixth place getting $10,000 (KSh 1.29 million), seventh $7,500 (KSh 968,000), eighth $5,000 (KSh 646,000), ninth $2,500 (KSh 323,000), and tenth $2,000 (KSh 258,000).
1st – USD 100,000
2nd – USD 60,000
3rd – USD 40,000
4th – USD 25,000
5th – USD 15,000
6th – USD 10,000
7th – USD 7,500
8th – USD 5,000
9th – USD 2,500
10th – USD 2,000
Bonuses
$50,000 (KSh 6.46 million) bonus will be awarded to winners in the Open or Wheelchair Divisions who break the existing course record, based on gun time.
Elite Fields
Men
Eliud Kipchoge (Kenya) – 2:01:09
Kenenisa Bekele (Ethiopia) – 2:01:41
Benson Kipruto (Kenya) – 2:02:16
Deresa Geleta (Ethiopia) – 2:02:38
Alexander Mutiso (Kenya) – 2:03:11
Abdi Nageeye (Netherlands) – 2:04:20 NR
Alphonce Simbu (Tanzania) – 2:04:38
Sondre Nordstad Moen (Norway) – 2:05:48 NR
Felix Bour (France) – 2:06:46
Matthias Kyburz (Switzerland) – 2:06:48
Abel Kipchumba (Kenya) – 2:06:49
Biya Simbassa (USA) – 2:06:53
Albert Korir (Kenya) – 2:06:57
Tsegay Tuemay (Eritrea) – 2:07:35
Emmanuel Levisse (France) – 2:07:41
Pat Tiernan (Australia) – 2:07:45
Daniele Meucci (Italy) – 2:07:49
Alex Maier (USA) – 2:08:33
Jonny Mellor (Great Britain) – 2:09:09
Colin Bennie (USA) – 2:09:38
Reed Fischer (USA) – 2:10:14
Joel Reichow (USA) – 2:10:37
Pasquale Selvarolo (Italy) – 2:11:34
Yudai Fukuda (Japan) – 2:13:19
Ryan Eiler (USA) – 2:13:36
Matthew Leach (Great Britain) – 2:15:31
Tim McGowan (USA) – 2:15:40
Sean Grossman (USA) – 2:18:45
Hillary Bor (USA) – Debut
Patrick Dever (Great Britain) – Debut
Charles Hicks (USA) – Debut
Joe Klecker (USA) – Debut
Charles Philibert-Thiboutot – Debut
Also Read: Kenyan Marathoner Slapped With 10-Year-Ban; Here’s Why
Women
Sifan Hassan (Netherlands) – 2:13:44 NR
Sharon Lokedi (Kenya) – 2:17:22
Sheila Chepkirui (Kenya) – 2:17:29
Hellen Obiri (Kenya) – 2:17:41
Gotytom Gebreslase (Ethiopia) – 2:18:11
Emily Sisson (USA) – 2:18:23 NR
Vivian Cheruiyot (Kenya) – 2:18:31
Edna Kiplagat (Kenya) – 2:19:50
Sara Hall (USA) – 2:20:32
Susanna Sullivan (USA) – 2:21:56
Fiona O’Keeffe (USA) – 2:22:10
Molly Seidel (USA) – 2:23:07
Annie Frisbie (USA) – 2:23:21
Sara Vaughn (USA) – 2:23:24
Fionnuala McCormack (Ireland) – 2:23:46
Kellyn Taylor (USA) – 2:24:29
Fabienne Schlumpf (Switzerland) – 2:24:30 NR
Stephanie Bruce (USA) – 2:27:47
Elena Hayday (USA) – 2:30:51
Argentina Valdepeñas (Mexico) – 2:35:16
Khia Kurtenbach (USA) – 2:39:50
Karoline Bjerkeli Grøvdal (Norway) – N/A
Jessica Warner-Judd (Great Britain) – Debut
Amanda Vestri (USA) – Debut
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