Abdi Nageeye Claims Victory at NYC Marathon 2024; Sheila Chepkirui Wins Women's Race

Abdi Nageeye & Sheila Chepkirui

Abdi Nageeye from the Netherlands won the men's title at the New York City Marathon on Sunday, marking his first victory in this prestigious race. Sheila Chepkirui of Kenya triumphed in the women's event, also securing her first NYC Marathon win. Both athletes made decisive moves in the final stretches, pulling away from their closest competitors.

Nageeye finished with a time of 2 hours, 7 minutes, and 39 seconds, just 6 seconds ahead of defending champion Evans Chebet. Reflecting on his victory, Nageeye said, “At the finish, I was like, am I dreaming? I won New York.” This was Nageeye's fourth attempt at the marathon, having previously finished third in 2022. He emphasized his strategy of enduring until the final kilometers, likening his approach to that of a cyclist.

Chepkirui, competing in New York for the first time, broke away from defending champion Hellen Obiri, finishing the race in 2:24:35, nearly 15 seconds ahead. She expressed her joy, stating, “It means my training has been good.” Having started running marathons in 2022, this victory marked a significant milestone for her. Obiri was aiming for a repeat victory, a feat last achieved by Mary Keitany from 2014 to 2016.

The race also featured strong performances from other elite runners, with Vivian Cheruiyot completing the Kenyan sweep in the women's race. In the men's field, defending champion Tamirat Tola finished fourth, just behind Albert Korir. American runners Conner Mantz and Sara Vaughn placed sixth in their respective categories, with Vaughn having to adapt her plans after COVID-19 affected her previous marathon schedule.

In the wheelchair divisions, Daniel Romanchuk upset three-time champion Marcel Hug, winning the men's race. Susannah Scaroni claimed victory in the women's wheelchair event, marking her second win in New York and making history with American winners in both wheelchair races for the first time.

The marathon course spans 26.2 miles through all five boroughs of New York City, starting in Staten Island and ending in Central Park. This year’s race marked the 48th time the course has included all boroughs, with over 50,000 runners expected to compete. Ideal weather conditions, with temperatures in the low 40s, contributed to the successful running of the event, contrasting with the warmer temperatures from the previous year.

Abdi Nageeye Claims Victory at NYC Marathon 2024; Sheila Chepkirui Wins Women's Race