Tola triumphs with course record in New York marathon, Nageeye fourth

Tamirat Tola has won the New York Marathon. The 32-year-old Ethiopian was the first to cross the line in Central Park after 2 hours, 4 minutes and 58 seconds. He set a new course record.

Abdi Nageeye finished fourth in 2.10.21, more than five minutes behind last year’s world champion. Afterwards he indicated that he did not feel well during the race. He will look at the cause of this at a later time, as well as his planning for the Games in Paris.

In the women’s race, Hellen Obiri won a tactical battle. In Central Park she raced away from the leading group and won her second major marathon of this year with a time of 2.27.23.

Nageeye was able to keep up with the pace of the later winner for a little more than half the distance. The 34-year-old Dutchman wanted revenge for his failed marathon at the World Championships in Budapest this summer. That had to happen in New York, where he finished third last year.

The course, in combination with the absence of hares, generally does not lend itself to lightning fast times. As a result, they often run tactically, for the win and places of honor. Nageeye knew it and had prepared for a battle in the leading group. “Survive, as long as possible” was the plan beforehand. “And then improve myself, so become first or second.”

That went smoothly for the experienced Dutchman for more than twenty kilometers. He joined a group of five that broke away from the rest of the field.

But the pace was good. With hardly any wind, pleasant morning sun and good temperatures, the conditions were ideal. Tola in particular made it a fast marathon. Last year’s world champion was clearly chasing Geoffrey Mutai’s twelve-year-old course record (2.05.06).

Tola, with his best competitors in tow, recorded a time of 1.02.45 when completing the half marathon. A fast first half, but not fast enough for Tola.

With several accelerations in pace, in addition to Nageeye, he also shook off the rest of the competition one by one. His compatriot Jemal Yimer lasted the longest, but with more than ten kilometers to go he could no longer follow, fell silent and finished ninth.

Kenyan Albert Korir, winner in New York two years ago, came second. He narrowly stayed ahead of Shura Kitata (2.07.11) from Ethiopia in 2.06.57.

For the women it turned out to be a tactical duel. In the opening phase it was 43-year-old Edna Kiplagat who tried several times to increase the pace. To her own disadvantage, because the experienced Kenyan had to release before the final.

In the final through Central Park, the leading group of three even had competitors come back. But the strongest runners appeared to already be at the front, as Hellen Obiri and Letesenbet Gidey battled for the win in the last kilometer.

The final sprint of the patient Obiri was too much for Gidey, often a competitor of Sifan Hassan on the track in the 10,000 meters. The Kenyan finished six seconds (2.27.29) behind winner Obiri, who achieved a rare double by winning her second major of the year after her victory in Boston.