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Jepchirchir and Korir Win TCS New York City Marathon

By mitchpa on November 10, 2021 • ( 2 )

by Clay Shaw

New York, NY, November 7, 2021—Peres Jepchirchir of Kenya became the first ever Olympic marathon champion to win the New York City Marathon in the same year. The Olympic Gold Medalist won in 2:22:44 in her first ever visit to the United States. With a 92-day recovery cycle, she explained, “The time was short. I completed my workouts, my preparations. I am so happy today, in the City of New York.” Jepchirchir had been running with Viola Cheptoo of Kenya, (sister of Bernard Lagat), who was running her first marathon, and Ababel Yeshaneh of Ethiopia, who had owned the half-marathon world record. As the trio turned off 59^th Street and back into Central Park, Jepchirchir powered away. Cheptoo finished in 2:22:44, a remarkable debut that her brother enjoyed publicly on the TV broadcast. Yeshaneh was third in 2:22:52.

Molly Seidel of Hartland, Wisconsin, the Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist, was fourth in 2:24:42 earning a personal best, as well as the fastest NYC Marathon ever by an American woman. Helalia Johannes of Namibia, 41, was fifth and top master in 2:26:09. Kellyn Taylor of Flagstaff, AZ was sixth in 2:26:10. Annie Frisbie of Minneapolis had a fantastic debut with a 2:26:18 to place seventh. Laura Thweatt of Louisville, Colorado was eighth in 2:27:00. Grace Kahura of Kenya, who is based in the USA, had a personal best of 2:30:52. Stephanie Bruce of Flagstaff, AZ was tenth in 2:31:05, as USA women did well with five in the top ten overall. Shalane Flanagan of Lake Oswego, OR ran 2:33:54 in her sixth marathon in 42 days. Flanagan started with the 9:10 am starters, the first wave of citizen runners. Flanagan would place 12^th and second master, and ahead of over half of the elite field.

Albert Korir of Kenya won fairly easily in 2:08:22, he finished second in 2019. He had to come from behind on Manhattan’s First Avenue, as he and Kibiwott Kandie raced to catch the early leaders near mile 18. Mohamed El Aaraby of Morocco and Eyob Faniel of Italy broke away from the large lead pack near 15K. The TV commentator called it “a moment in the sun,” implying they would soon be overtaken. I think not, it was the move that broke the race open early, and was key to podium places for both El Aaraby and Faniel. El Aaraby finished a strong second with a personal best of 2:09:06. Faniel was third in 2:09:52.

Elkanah Kibet of Colorado Springs, like Seidel, was fourth with a new personal best. Kibet ran 2:11:15.

Olympic silver medalist Abdi Nageeye of Netherlands was fifth in 2:11:39. The second fastest marathoner in the world, Kenenisa Bekele of Ethiopia, now 39, was sixth in 2:12:52. Ben True of West Lebanon, NH was seventh in 2:12:53 in his marathon debut. Nathan Martin of Jackson, MI was eighth in 2:12:57. Kibiwott Kandie of Kenya, who caught the leaders with Korir, was eighth in his marathon debut in 2:13:43. Rio Olympian Jared Ward of Mapleton, Utah was tenth in 2:14:06. Four USA men earned top ten placings.

The Paralympic races were won by Marcel Hug of Switzerland in 1:31:24, and Madison de Rozario of Australia in 1:51:01.

The TCS New York City Marathon set a world finisher record of 53,627 in 2019. With Covid protocols, a reduced field of 25,010 finished in 2021. The elite women started at 8:40 am, the elite men at 9:05 am, and the first of five waves at 9:10 am. The final wave started at noon, with many finishers crossing the finish line after dark.

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