This weekend, the spotlight will shift to the vibrant streets of New York City as the final Abbot World Marathon Major of the year is set to unfold on Sunday, November 5, across the five boroughs of the “Big Apple.”
Locally, the New York City Marathon will also be celebrated in Iten at a specially organized event known as the Bank of Africa (BOA) “Viewerthon” hosted at the Elgon Valley Resort, generously sponsored by BOA. This gathering will see elite and emerging athletes participate as the event’s chief guests.
In the men’s race, Kenya’s defending champion Evans Chebet and two-time winner Geoffrey Kamworor, unfortunately, had to withdraw due to injuries. Stepping in to carry the Kenyan flag are Edward Cheserek, who will be making his debut in the 42-kilometer event, and 2021 champion Albert Korir.
Edward Cheserek, a former New Jersey high school sensation, boasts an impressive record, making him the most decorated athlete in the history of the USA’s NCAA.
The men’s field also includes Teferi, the 2023 World Athletics Championships marathon silver medalist, two-time World Championships silver medalist Mosinet Geremew of Ethiopia, Olympic silver medalist Abdi Nageeye of the Netherlands, two-time TCS New York City Marathon runner-up Shura Kitata of Ethiopia, North America’s marathon record-holder Cam Levins of Canada, and 2023 NYC Half podium finisher Zouahir Talbi of Morocco.
In the women’s race, Kenya has lined up seven formidable athletes, led by defending champion Sharon Lokedi, Boston Marathon and Boston Marathon champion Hellen Obiri, Olympic gold medalist and defending champion Peres Jepchirchir, and former marathon world-record holder Brigid Kosgei.
Last year’s top six finishers in the women’s race are set to return, and the Kenyan contingent also includes Edna Kiplagat, a distinguished marathon winner in New York, Boston, London, and World Championships. Olympian Viola Cheptoo Lagat and Mary Ngugi-Cooper, who secured 10th place in the 2019 New York Marathon, complete the lineup.
Peres Jepchirchir, the defending champion, expressed her confidence, stating, “I believe that I have prepared well, and having won the race in 2021, which was my first time in New York, I believe that I will be able to compete effectively and reclaim the title.”
The BOA “Viewerthons” represent a series of events where the bank extends invitations to elite and emerging athletes, along with the local community, to follow the Abbott World Marathon Majors races live from Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago, and New York. These events also feature educational programs to enrich the experience.
“This marks the seventh year of our sponsorship of the Viewerthon series, as part of our commitment to support our world-class athletic talent pool. We are reviving the ‘Viewerthons’ after a temporary pause due to the Coronavirus pandemic, with the series taking a break in 2020, 2021, and 2022,” affirmed Bank of Africa – Kenya CEO Ronald Marambii, who is also an enthusiastic runner and recently claimed victory in the CEOs race at the Inter-Bank Games in Nairobi.
