Start spreading the news, I’m leavin’ today. I want to be a part of it, New York, N.Y.
We’re just days away from the world’s biggest marathon major: the 2024 TCS New York City Marathon. Last year, over 1,000 Canadian runners made the trip to the Big Apple, and this year, the race has already set record numbers. One Canadian athlete to watch this weekend is Olympic marathoner Rory Linkletter, who will make his NYC Marathon debut, 11 weeks after competing in Paris.
Linkletter recently shared with Canadian Running that he’s very motivated after his Olympic debut, which he described as “a mix of pride and disappointment.” The 28-year-old felt he did everything possible to prepare for the challenging Olympic marathon course, only to finish 47th in 2:13:09. Canada’s second-fastest marathoner came into Paris fresh off his career-best performance at February’s Seville Marathon, where he clocked a 2:08:01, qualifying for the Olympics by nine seconds.
This NYC Marathon build has been different for Linkletter as he adapts to new coach Jon Green, who also coaches U.S. 2020 Olympic bronze medallist Molly Seidel. New York is famously known as the toughest Abbott World Major, with a course winding through five boroughs and finishing with the hills of Central Park. Linkletter shared that rather than trying to master the course, he’s focused on getting as fit as possible for race day, Nov. 3.
Could we see an American victory?
Linkletter’s former collegiate teammates from Brigham Young University, Conner Mantz and Clayton Young, are two Americans to watch on Sunday. The duo train together under coach Ed Eyestone in Utah, and Mantz is coming off a near personal best at the Paris Olympics, where he finished eighth. The Paris and NYC courses are similar, as most elevation gain occurs in the latter half of the race. Young, who finished ninth behind Mantz in Paris, has run under 2:09:30 in his last three marathons, making him another contender. The American duo said they are in the best shape of their careers, which they will have to be to contend with the strong East African men’s field.
The return of the king
Reigning NYC champion Tamirat Tola proved himself as the world’s best marathoner three months ago in Paris, where he claimed gold in an Olympic record time of 2:06:26 on a challenging course. Tola has won two of his last three marathons and set the NYC course record of 2:04:58 last year. At Friday’s press conference, Tola said he was pleased with his course record but felt he could have gone even faster. His victory in Paris mirrored his NYC win last year, as he broke away from the field halfway through and never looked back.
This year’s field is even stronger, with the return of 2022 champion Evans Chebet of Kenya, Olympic silver medalist Bashir Abdi of Belgium, 2021 NYC champion Albert Korir, and 2019 champion Geoffrey Kamworor. It’ll be interesting to see if Tola can become the first Ethiopian to win back-to-back NYC Marathon titles.
Prediction: Tamirat Tola (2:05:45)
Will the women’s course record be broken?
Hellen Obiri returns after her historic sprint victory last year in Central Park. In 2023, Obiri outpaced Ethiopia’s Letesenbet Gidey, Kenya’s Brigid Kosgei and Sharon Lokedi in the final kilometre, capturing her first NYC title and becoming the first woman in three decades to win both Boston and NYC in the same year. Obiri defended her Boston title earlier this year—could she pull off another double in NYC? The course suits Obiri’s running style and if it comes down to a close finish, she will be hard to beat given her track speed.
2022 champion Lokedi also returns for her third NYC Marathon, aiming for a second major title after her third-place finish last year and a near-podium finish at the Paris Olympics. Ethiopia’s top contender, Senbere Teferi, has shown exceptional promise in the half marathon but has yet to translate her 64-minute half-marathon speed into the marathon. With a personal best of 2:19:21 from Berlin 2023, she’ll be looking to make a breakthrough.
Finally, eyes will be on the return of three-time Olympic gold medalist Tirunesh Dibaba, who is set to race her first marathon in six years—and her NYC debut. Could the 39-year-old Ethiopian legend make a memorable comeback?
The time to watch on Sunday will be Margaret Okayo’s course record of 2:22:31 which has stood for 21 years. There are no Canadian women in the 2024 NYC Marathon elite field.
Prediction: Hellen Obiri (2:23:34)
How to watch
The 2024 TCS New York City Marathon will be aired in Canada on TSN5, with coverage beginning at 8:00 a.m. ET Sunday. You can also stream the event live online via the TSN app or via TSN.ca/live.
All the action for the 2024 TCS New York City Marathon will be brought to you by Canadian Running and New Balance. Follow us on Twitter on Instagram for in-depth coverage, live-tweeting and up-to-date exclusive news and content.
