New York City Marathon 2024: Four of the top female runners to watch in the Big Apple

On Sunday 3 November, many of the world’s top marathon runners will compete for glory in the 2024 New York City Marathon.

Among the elite field, which includes multiple Olympic medallists and athletes competing in their first race since Paris 2024, are some of the most exciting female runners on the planet.

Read on to discover four of the top runners in the women’s field to watch in the final Marathon Major of 2024.

• 2024 New York City Marathon preview, schedule and how to watch

Four elite women to watch in the 2024 New York City Marathon

Hellen Obiri, Kenya

Kenya’s Hellen Obiri enters this year’s New York City Marathon as the defending champion and — just like last year — in formidable form.

In 2023, the 34-year-old had her arm raised victorious at the end of both the Boston Marathon and the New York City Marathon. This year, she has the chance to repeat history after her victory in April’s race in Boston sets her up for an intriguing double-double.

Obiri’s other notable 2024 highlight was bronze in the Olympic marathon in Paris, which took place just 11 weeks ago. It was an incident-packed race for the Kenyan, which included falls and missed drinks stations, but she rallied bravely to finish on the podium to win her third Olympic medal in as many Games.

Can the two-time Olympic track silver medallist add another gong to her burgeoning trophy cabinet? All will be revealed on Sunday.

Hellen Obiri's Marathon PB: 2:23:10

Sharon Lokedi, Kenya

Obiri’s closest rival for the final podium spot at Paris 2024 was also the last woman other than Obiri to win the New York City Marathon: Sharon Lokedi.

2022 New York champion, Lokedi was in touching distance of an Olympic medal, missing out by a mere four seconds on the streets of France’s capital.

It’s evidence of the strength of the Kenyan marathon team that Lokedi was originally named as a reserve for the Olympics before she replaced an injured Brigid Kosgei just weeks before the Games.

Lokedi also lost out to Obiri in this year’s Boston Marathon where she finished second, but her impressive achievements after only four career marathons will put her in good stead when she races again in the Big Apple.

Sharon Lokedi Marathon PB: 2:22:45

• Sharon Lokedi ready to race for glory in New York

Dakotah Lindwurm, USA

Another athlete who competed at Paris 2024 is American Dakotah Lindwurm, who ended the race as the USA’s top finisher after she came home in 12th place.

Lindwurm has high expectations for this year’s race in New York, having improved in an area she feels has been her main weakness in the past.

“I’d say my A goal would be to be on the podium,” Lindwurm said in the build-up to the race. “I don’t think that’s out of reach when I’ve been training so hard on the hills, and for the first time in my life, feel really, really confident on hills.”

Lindwurm will be joined on the start line by a number of other strong American runners, including Tokyo 2020 Olympic trials winner Aliphine Tuliamuk, Rio 2016 1500m bronze medallist Jenny Simpson and 2018 Boston Marathon champion Des Linden.

Each of them will be aiming to spring a surprise in front of a raucous home crowd come Sunday.

Dakota Lindwurm Marathon PB: 2:24:40

Sheila Chepkirui, Kenya

In terms of pure marathon speed, the fastest woman in the field is another Kenyan, Sheila Chepkirui.

The 33-year-old holds a personal best of 2:17:29 set on the rapid Valencia Marathon course in 2022.

While Chepkirui does not have the Olympic pedigree of some of her rivals in New York, she did win bronze in the 10,000m at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

Her form over the 42.195km distance has, however, been nothing short of impressive and includes a 2:17:49 at last year’s Berlin Marathon.

She will be aiming for a new PB in a year in which the women’s marathon world record has toppled to under the mythical mark of 2 hours and 10 minutes.

Sheila Chepkirui Marathon PB: 2:17:29