NEW YORK CITY – Kenyan athletes delivered a historic and dominant performance at the 2025 TCS New York City Marathon on Sunday, November 2, executing a clean sweep of all six podium positions in the elite men's and women's races. Hellen Obiri captured the women's title by shattering a two-decade-old course record, while Benson Kipruto clinched the men's victory in one of the closest finishes in the event's history.

The victories underscore Kenya's unparalleled prowess in marathon running and bring significant prize money back to the country. Both Obiri and Kipruto secured the top prize of $100,000 each for their first-place finishes, according to the official prize money distribution announced by race organizers.

Obiri's Record-Breaking Run

Hellen Obiri, 35, ran a masterful race, crossing the finish line in Central Park with a time of 2 hours, 19 minutes, and 51 seconds. Her performance obliterated the previous course record of 2:22:31, set by fellow Kenyan Margaret Okayo in 2003. For breaking the 22-year-old record, Obiri earned an additional $50,000 bonus. This victory marks Obiri's second win in New York, having also claimed the title in 2023.

The women's race featured a powerful Kenyan trio who ran together for much of the course. Sharon Lokedi, the 2022 champion, finished second in 2:20:07, and defending champion Sheila Chepkirui placed third with a time of 2:20:24. Notably, all three top finishers ran faster than the old course record, a testament to the blistering pace of the race.

Kipruto's Photo Finish Victory

The men's race provided a dramatic conclusion as Benson Kipruto, 34, won his debut New York City Marathon in a thrilling sprint to the finish. He and compatriot Alexander Mutiso were both officially clocked at 2 hours, 8 minutes, and 9 seconds, but a photo finish determined Kipruto the winner by a mere fraction of a second—reported as between 0.03 and 0.16 seconds. It was the closest men's race in the event's history.

Kipruto's victory adds the prestigious New York title to his impressive collection of World Marathon Major wins, which includes Boston (2021), Chicago (2022), and Tokyo (2024). Mutiso earned $60,000 for his second-place finish. Albert Korir, the 2021 champion, completed the Kenyan sweep, finishing third in 2:08:57 and earning $40,000.

Kipchoge Completes Majors

In a much-anticipated debut, marathon icon Eliud Kipchoge finished in 17th place with a time of 2:14:36. By completing the race, the 40-year-old two-time Olympic champion achieved his goal of finishing all six Abbott World Marathon Majors, a prestigious circuit that also includes Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, and Chicago. His participation drew significant global attention to the event, which saw more than 55,000 runners compete across New York's five boroughs.

The unprecedented double podium sweep serves as a powerful statement of Kenya's athletic depth and continues a legacy of excellence on the world's biggest marathon stages. The success of Obiri, Kipruto, and their teammates provides inspiration and reinforces the country's status as the epicenter of elite marathon running.