Peter Lynch leads the Irish interest in the elite running field at the New York City Marathon on Sunday, November 1, with a strong international line up set to take on the journey from Staten Island to Central Park. Defending champions Benson Kipruto and Hellen Obiri are returning, so there is plenty to follow throughout the afternoon.
The Men's Race
Peter Lynch gives Irish viewers a strong reason to settle in for this one. The Kilkenny City Harriers athlete finished ninth at the London Marathon in April, running an Irish record of 2:06:08, and now takes on a course that demands patience as much as speed.
Defending champion Benson Kipruto leads a field that also includes former New York winners Abdi Nageeye and Geoffrey Kamworor. Ethiopia's Deresa Geleta, with a personal best of 2:02:38, and American contender Conner Mantz add further depth.
Sweden's Andreas Almgren makes his marathon debut, bringing another intriguing storyline to a race where the bridges and closing miles can undo even the best plans.
The Women's Race
Hellen Obiri returns to defend her title against a field featuring 2024 champion Sheila Chepkirui, Viola Cheptoo and former winner Edna Kiplagat.
Jessica McClain and Annie Frisbie are among the leading American entries, while Weini Kelati steps up to the marathon for the first time. Uruguay's world bronze medallist Julia Paternain is another athlete to watch.
Olympic champion Sifan Hassan, who featured in the original field announcement, has withdrawn following illness.
When It's On
ABC7's race coverage begins at 1pm Irish and UK time, following its programme before the race from 12 noon. The elite women start at 1.35pm, with Lynch and the elite men following at 2.05pm.
The men's wheelchair race starts at 1pm and includes Ireland's Patrick Monahan. The women's wheelchair race begins at 1.02pm.
Based on those start times, the leading women should reach Central Park shortly before 4pm, with the men's winner expected shortly after 4.10pm, depending on how the races unfold.
How To Watch
The ABC7 New York streaming link is below, with the broadcaster's main race coverage scheduled from 1pm Irish and UK time.
ABC7 also offers a dedicated finish line stream for those watching friends, family and clubmates complete their race. Runner tracking and live leaderboards are available through the official New York Road Runners app.
The Course And Prize
The route begins on Staten Island before passing through Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Manhattan, finishing in Central Park. This year's edition marks 50 years since the marathon first travelled through all five boroughs.
The bridges and demanding final miles make New York a very different challenge from the flatter courses where runners chase personal bests. Staying in contention can matter far more than the pace on the watch.
The men's and women's open division winners will each receive $100,000.
