New York City Marathon 2024: Four of the top male runners to watch in the final Marathon Major of the year
A rapid men’s field has been assembled for this year’s New York City Marathon, including the reigning Olympic champion. Discover four men who will be hoping they can reign victorious in the Big Apple this Sunday.
Athletics
The stage is set for an epic New York City Marathon on Sunday 3 November, with some of the top marathoners on the planet set to battle for glory on the streets of the Big Apple.
In the men’s race, the reigning Olympic champion will take on the Paris 2024 silver medallist, multiple former New York winners and the very best Americans in what promises to be one of the most exciting races of the year.
Read on to discover four athletes who are favourites for victory in New York this Sunday.
Four elite men to watch in the 2024 New York City Marathon
Tamirat Tola, Ethiopia
Is there any stopping Tamirat Tola right now?
The 33-year-old was in a league of his own during the Paris 2024 Olympic marathon, storming to victory where others - including the greatest marathoner of all time Eliud Kipchoge - struggled with the gruelling hills in France’s capital. Not only did Tola navigate the course expertly, but he also set a new Olympic record with a time of 2:06:26.
Tola is also the reigning New York City Marathon champion, having set a new course record of 2:04:58 in last year’s edition of the race.
Can anyone stop him from winning back-to-back races in the Big Apple? By the looks of this year’s field, there are more than a few who will be capable of challenging him.
Evans Chebet, Kenya
One athlete with the talent to beat the very best in the sport is Kenya’s Evans Chebet. The 35-year-old is a three-time Marathon Major champion, having triumphed twice in Boston (2022 and 2023) and tasted victory on the streets of New York back in 2022.
Chebet holds a rapid personal best of 2:03:00, making him the 11th fastest man over the 42.195km distance of all time.
Injury kept Chebet out of the Paris 2024 marathon, however, he will be eager to make up for missed opportunities when he lines up to race on Sunday.
But Chebet isn’t the only former New York winner to take his place on the starting line this weekend. Two-time champ Geoffrey Kamworor (2017, 2019) and 2021 victor Albert Korir will also be among the favourites to win the final Marathon Major of 2024.
Bashir Abdi, Belgium
One man who just loves an Olympic year is Somalia-born Belgian Bashir Abdi.
After claiming a place on the podium with his bronze medal in the men’s marathon at Tokyo 2020, Adbi went one better this year with a brave run to silver at Paris 2024.
The 35-year-old has yet to taste victory in a Marathon Major, with second in the 2020 Tokyo Marathon and third-place finishes in both the 2022 London and 2023 Chicago marathons his best results to date.
But with a personal best of 2:03:36 and a reputation for rising to the big occasion, this may just be the year in which Abdi reaches the top of the podium after missing out by fine margins in years gone by.
Conner Mantz, USA
American hopes in New York may well lie on the shoulders of Conner Manz, the Utah-born and bred winner of the 2024 US Olympic marathon trials.
Mantz finished eighth in the Paris 2024 marathon and will take to the streets of New York alongside his training partner and friend Clayton Young, who ended the race in France just behind in ninth.
Mantz’s personal best of 2:07:47 may be over three minutes slower than the fastest runners in the field but, buoyed on by a home crowd, could he spring a surprise and reach the podium in New York?
He and Young will face stiff competition for the title of fastest American from CJ Albertson who achieved that feat at the Boston and Chicago Marathons in 2024.