New York City was once again the stage for marathon history on November 2, 2025, as Hellen Obiri of Kenya shattered a 21-year-old course record to claim her second TCS New York City Marathon title in emphatic fashion. Obiri’s winning time of 2:19:51 not only broke the previous women’s record by nearly three minutes but also set a new standard for one of the world’s most iconic road races. The men’s race, meanwhile, delivered a dramatic photo finish, with Kenya’s Benson Kipruto edging Alexander Mutiso by mere fractions of a second, both crossing the line in 2:08:09.
The anticipation was palpable at the starting line on Staten Island as over 50,000 runners from around the globe prepared to traverse all five boroughs, cheered on by throngs of spectators lining the streets. With temperatures in the comfortable 50s Fahrenheit and clear skies above, the conditions were ideal for fast times—though few could have predicted just how fast the women’s elite field would go.
From the early miles, it was clear the women were gunning for something special. A formidable lead pack of 13, featuring the past three NYC champions—Sheila Chepkirui, Hellen Obiri, and Sharon Lokedi—alongside Olympic champion Sifan Hassan and top Americans Emily Sisson and Fiona O’Keeffe, blazed through 10 kilometers in 33:53. This group was well inside course record pace, and the intensity only increased as the miles ticked by.
By the halfway mark, the front pack had been whittled down to four: Obiri, Lokedi, Chepkirui, and the American marathon upstart O’Keeffe. Hassan, who had recently won the Sydney Marathon, was a few seconds adrift but still within striking distance. The relentless tempo began to take its toll after the 30-kilometer mark, with O’Keeffe and Hassan losing contact as the race moved into the final stages.
It was in the final three miles, winding through Central Park, that Obiri made her decisive move. Looking composed and powerful, she surged ahead of Lokedi, opening a gap that would only grow as she approached the finish. Obiri crossed the line in 2:19:51, smashing Margaret Okayo’s 2003 record of 2:22:31—a mark that had stood through the rise of super shoes and shifting marathon tactics. Lokedi, the 2022 champion, finished just 16 seconds behind in 2:20:07, while defending champion Chepkirui clocked 2:20:24 for third, ensuring a Kenyan sweep of the podium for the second consecutive year. All three women finished under the previous course record, a testament to the depth and quality of this year’s field.
Fiona O’Keeffe’s fourth-place finish in 2:22:49 was the fastest ever by an American woman on the NYC course, eclipsing Molly Seidel’s previous best. Annie Frisbie followed in fifth at 2:24:12, while Sifan Hassan, running just eight weeks after her Sydney triumph, placed sixth in 2:24:43. Emily Sisson (eighth, 2:25:05) and Amanda Vestri (tenth, 2:25:40) rounded out a strong showing for the U.S. contingent.
“It took a course record to prevail in the battle of the New York City Marathon champions, but '23 winner Hellen Obiri was up for the challenge,” reported FloTrack, highlighting Obiri’s relentless pace and composure under pressure. The historic nature of the women’s race was not lost on fans or commentators, with three athletes breaking a record that had stood for more than two decades.
The men’s race was a tactical affair from the outset, with a massive lead pack of over 20 runners passing 10 kilometers in a cautious 30:22. Marathon legends Eliud Kipchoge and Kenenisa Bekele were among those biding their time in the group, alongside Albert Korir, Alexander Mutiso, and Benson Kipruto. The pack remained largely intact through halfway (1:05:18), as no one seemed eager to take on the early pacing duties.
It wasn’t until after 30 kilometers that the race began to splinter. Marathon debutant Hillary Bor injected some drama with a bold surge, but it was Kipruto and Mutiso who ultimately separated themselves from the field in the final miles. The two Kenyans matched each other stride for stride through Central Park, setting up a finish for the ages.
Kipruto appeared to have made the decisive move in the last 200 meters, but Mutiso was not done yet, launching a furious sprint in the final 50 meters. In a heart-stopping conclusion, Kipruto held on to win by just 0.16 seconds, both men officially clocked at 2:08:09. “Benson Kipruto captures victory in photo finish over Alexander Mutiso,” FloTrack recapped, capturing the drama that left fans breathless. Albert Korir, the 2021 champion, completed the Kenyan sweep in 2:08:57, narrowly holding off Britain’s Patrick Dever (2:08:58) for third.
Joel Reichow was the top American finisher, placing sixth in 2:09:56, while Charles Hicks (seventh, 2:09:59) and Joe Klecker (tenth, 2:10:37) made impressive debuts. Two-time Olympic champion Eliud Kipchoge, running his first New York City Marathon at age 41, finished 17th in 2:14:36—a result that may signal the twilight of a legendary career.
In the wheelchair divisions, American Susannah Scaroni claimed her third women’s title in 1:42:10, shaving almost six minutes off her 2024 time, while Switzerland’s Marcel Hug reclaimed the men’s championship in 1:30:16 after a three-year gap.
The 2025 edition of the New York City Marathon was more than just a race—it was a showcase of resilience, tactical brilliance, and history-making performances. From Obiri’s record-smashing run to Kipruto’s dramatic finish, the event delivered moments that will be remembered for years to come. As the sun set over Central Park, runners of all abilities continued to stream across the finish line, each with their own story of triumph, perseverance, and the magic of marathon day in the Big Apple.
