On Sunday 5 November, the New York City Marathon will take place on the streets of the Big Apple.
This year features an intriguing field that includes Olympic champions, world champions and the athlete with the most victories in NCAA history.
The Marathon Major has a history of thrilling races, although no world record has been set on the course since the 1980s.
But with athletes breaking both the men’s and women’s world records in recent months, and a start list filled with champions, could this be the year we see the fastest time ever set in New York?
Discover seven of the top runners at the upcoming Marathon Major below.
Seven athletes to watch at the 2023 New York City Marathon
Peres Jepchirchir, Kenya
This year’s women’s field features some of the best marathon runners in history, including the reigning Olympic champion Peres Jepchirchir. The Kenyan has a stellar history over the half-marathon distance, having won three individual golds at the World Half Marathon Championships, but her move up to 42.195 km has seen her become one of the strongest marathoners in the world.
In 2021 alone, the 30-year-old won the Olympic marathon as well as the same race in which she lines up on Sunday in New York. She followed up those victories with a win in Boston in 2022, making her the only athlete to complete that particular treble of race wins.
While injury left her missing out on the 2022 World Championships, Jepchirchir returned in 2023 with a third-place finish in London.
Will she prove she’s back to her best in New York?
Letesenbet Gidey, Ethiopia
Another exciting name on the entry list who is aiming to make her mark in the marathon is Ethiopia’s Letesenbet Gidey. The world record holder in both the 10,000m and half marathon, Gidey has won gold and two silvers in the former distance at the World Athletics Championships, as well as bronze at Tokyo 2020.
Gidey produced what was at the time the fastest women’s marathon debut in history when she passed the line in 2:16:49 in Valencia in 2022. Intriguingly she had been on world record pace for much of the race before fading in the final kilometres.
If the 25-year-old can show the stamina needed to last the course, she may well end up being the surprise package of the race. And while the women’s marathon world record now stands at a gasp-inducing 2:11:53, it will be intriguing to see just how close Gidey and the other elite women at the front of the race can come to besting it.
Hellen Obiri, Kenya
Speaking of elite women with an exceptional track record, Kenya’s Hellen Obiri is back for a second bite at the New York City Marathon after finishing sixth on her marathon debut in 2022.
Since then, the two-time Olympic silver medallist has gone on to register a win in the 2023 Boston Marathon where she raced to victory against a historically strong field.
Obiri has a plethora of medals to her name on the track, including two World Championship golds in the 5000m and a silver in the 10,000m that she claimed in 2022.
She will be among the favourites once again when she races in New York.
Tamirat Tola, Ethiopia
Another world champion, who is highly fancied in the men’s race, is Ethiopia’s Tamirat Tola, who is seeking his first Marathon Major victory after third places in the 2022 Tokyo Marathon and 2023 London Marathon.
Tola is another elite track athlete who has graduated to the longer distance and his record includes a bronze in the Rio 2016 Olympic 10,000m.
The 32-year-old also has history in the Big Apple having finished fourth in both the 2018 and 2019 editions of the race.
He will be hoping his experience can lead him to the podium when he returns to New York to race on Sunday.
Brigid Kosgei, Kenya
With five Marathon Major victories to her name - the last coming in 2021 in Tokyo - Brigid Kosgei is undoubtedly one of the most formidable runners on this list.
The Kenyan is the former marathon world record holder boasting a best time of 2:14:04 from the 2019 Chicago Marathon.
With Paris 2024 less than a year away, the New York City Marathon will also be an excellent test for the 29-year-old who will be aiming to turn the silver she won at Tokyo 2020 into gold in France.
Kosgei now has even more reason to be motivated as she seeks to reclaim her world record that now belongs to Tigist Assefa after her 2023 victory in Berlin. It may be a surprise if that happens in New York, but you also wouldn’t count out Kosgei posting a super-fast time.
Edward Cheserek, Kenya
One athlete who will also be aiming to spring a big surprise is Edward Cheserek. While the marathon debutant may be an outsider he may well be among the most well-known runners for the home crowd.
Cheserek made history as the most decorated NCAA runner in history after moving to the USA in 2010, with 17 titles to his name.
Sunday’s New York City Marathon will be the first time the 29-year-old has ever run the distance and it will be fascinating to see how he fares. One thing he has in his favour is that he does know the course, having watched on as his fiance Sharon Lokedi made a winning debut there last year.
Sharon Lokedi, Kenya
Speaking of Lokedi, the defending champion will be back to try and retain the title that she won in her first-ever marathon in 2022.
The 29-year-old faces a tough challenge in her second race in New York, however her experience of the demanding course will put her in good stead heading into Sunday.
Lokedi is another athlete with deep experience at college level, having won the 2018 10,000m title as well being named All-American on 10 separate occasions.
Can she repeat her stunning 2022 victory? All will be revealed on Sunday.