The 2024 New York City Marathon, scheduled for Sunday, November 3, promises to showcase an exceptional field of elite athletes competing in one of running’s most prestigious events.
The iconic 26.2-mile course, winding through all five boroughs of New York City, will once again serve as the backdrop for this world-class competition. At the forefront of this year’s race is defending champion Hellen Obiri, whose remarkable achievement of winning both the Boston and New York City Marathons in 2023 marked a historic milestone not seen in over three decades. Obiri’s victory in New York last year, with a time of 2:27:23, coupled with her Boston Marathon success, has established her as a formidable force in distance running. Her accomplishments have already yielded substantial rewards, including $300,000 in prize money.
The competitive field features an impressive contingent of nine Kenyan athletes, including Sharon Lokedi, who has consistently challenged Obiri in previous competitions. The race will be further enriched by the New York Marathon debut of Ethiopia’s Tirunesh Dibaba, a decorated athlete boasting three Olympic gold medals in the 5000m and 10,000m events. Great Britain’s Lily Partridge, with her impressive personal best of 2:25:12, adds a layer of competition to an already stellar field. The marathon’s prize structure reflects its prestigious status, with the champions receiving $100,000, while second and third place finishers earn $60,000 and $40,000, respectively.
The race will commence at Fort Wadsworth on Staten Island at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time, with various start times accommodating different categories, including professional wheelchair athletes, handcycle participants, and athletes with disabilities. The course concludes in Manhattan’s Central Park, where champions will be crowned and personal victories celebrated. Since the inception of its Official Charity Partner Program in 2006, the marathon has emerged as a powerful force for good, generating more than $520 million for over 1,000 non-profit organizations.
