Begin spreading the information, I’m leavin’ at the moment. I wish to be part of it–New York, New York!
We’re simply days away from the world’s greatest marathon main: the 2024 TCS New York Metropolis Marathon. Final yr, greater than 1,000 Canadian runners made the journey to the Huge Apple, and this yr, the race has already set document numbers. One Canadian athlete to observe is Olympic marathoner Rory Linkletter, who will make his NYC Marathon debut, 11 weeks after competing in Paris.
Linkletter not too long ago shared with Canadian Working that he’s feeling very motivated after his Olympic debut, which he described as “a mixture of delight and disappointment.” The 28-year-old felt he did every little thing attainable to arrange for the difficult Olympic marathon course, solely to complete forty seventh, in 2:13:09. Canada’s second-fastest marathoner got here into Paris contemporary off his career-best efficiency at February’s Seville Marathon, the place he clocked a 2:08:01, qualifying for the Olympics by 9 seconds.
This NYC Marathon construct has been totally different for Linkletter as he adapts to new coach Jon Inexperienced, who additionally coaches U.S. 2020 Olympic bronze medallist Molly Seidel. New York is famously often known as the hardest Abbott World Main, with a course winding by means of 5 boroughs and ending with the hills of Central Park. Linkletter shared that, relatively than making an attempt to grasp the course, he’s centered on getting as match as attainable for race day, Nov. 3.
Might we see an American victory?
Linkletter’s former collegiate teammates from Brigham Younger College, Conner Mantz and Clayton Younger, are two Individuals to observe on Sunday. The duo practice collectively underneath coach Ed Eyestone in Utah, and Mantz is coming off a near-personal-best on the Paris Olympics, the place he completed eighth. The Paris and NYC programs are comparable, in that a lot of the course’s elevation acquire happens within the latter half. Younger, who completed ninth behind Mantz in Paris, has run underneath 2:09:30 in his final three marathons, making him one other contender. The American duo mentioned they’re in the most effective form of their careers–which they should be to deal with the sturdy East African males’s area.
The return of the king
Reigning NYC champion Tamirat Tola proved himself to be the world’s greatest marathoner three months in the past in Paris, the place he claimed gold in an Olympic document time of two:06:26 on a difficult course. Tola has gained two of his final three marathons and set the NYC course document of two:04:58 final yr. At Friday’s press convention, Tola mentioned he was happy together with his course document, however felt he might have gone even sooner. His victory in Paris mirrored his NYC win final yr, as he broke away from the sphere midway by means of and by no means seemed again.
This yr’s area is even stronger, with the return of 2022 champion Evans Chebet of Kenya, Olympic silver medallist Bashir Abdi of Belgium, 2021 NYC champion Albert Korir and 2019 champion Geoffrey Kamworor. It’ll be attention-grabbing to see if Tola can turn out to be the primary Ethiopian to win back-to-back NYC Marathon titles.
Prediction: Tamirat Tola (2:05:45)
Will the ladies’s course document be damaged?
Hellen Obiri returns after her historic dash victory final yr in Central Park. In 2023, Obiri outpaced Ethiopia’s Letesenbet Gidey, Kenya’s Brigid Kosgei and Sharon Lokedi within the closing kilometre, capturing her first NYC title and turning into the primary lady in three many years to win each Boston and NYC in the identical yr. Obiri efficiently defended her Boston title earlier this yr; can she pull off one other double in NYC? The course fits Obiri’s working fashion, and if it comes all the way down to a detailed end, she shall be arduous to beat, given her monitor pace.
2022 champion Lokedi additionally returns for her third NYC Marathon, aiming for a second main title after her third-place end final yr and a near-podium end on the Paris Olympics. Ethiopia’s high contender, Senbere Teferi, has proven distinctive promise within the half-marathon, however has but to translate her 64-minute half-marathon pace into a formidable marathon outcome. With a private greatest of two:19:21 from Berlin 2023, she’ll be seeking to make a breakthrough.
Lastly, all eyes shall be on the return of three-time Olympic gold medallist Tirunesh Dibaba, who is about to race her first marathon in six years—and her NYC debut. Might the 39-year-old Ethiopian legend make a memorable comeback?
The time to observe on Sunday shall be Margaret Okayo’s course document of two:22:31, which has stood for 21 years.
There are not any Canadian ladies within the 2024 NYC Marathon elite area.
Prediction: Hellen Obiri (2:23:34)
The way to watch
The 2024 TCS New York Metropolis Marathon shall be aired in Canada on TSN5, 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 2024 TCS New York Metropolis Marathon shall be delivered to you by Canadian Working and New Steadiness. Observe us on Twitter on Instagram for in-depth protection, live-tweeting and up-to-date unique information and content material.
