Kenyan stars Hellen Obiri and Benson Kipruto will return to defend their titles at the 2026 TCS New York City Marathon after being confirmed among the elite athletes for the race's historic 50th edition.Download Our MozzartSport App For More NewsRace organisers, New York Road Runners (NYRR), announced a world-class professional field for the Sunday, 1 November event, which is expected to welcome close to 60,000 participants. This year's race marks 50 years since the marathon expanded to its iconic five-borough course in 1976.##NAJAVA_MECA_9901490##Obiri heads back to New York looking to continue her love affair with the course after producing a record-breaking performance in 2025. The two-time champion stormed to victory in 2:19:51, erasing a course record that had stood for more than two decades.The Kenyan has enjoyed another impressive season, highlighted by a runner-up finish at the London Marathon, where she clocked a personal best of 2:15:53.Kipyegon to miss ultimate championships due to lingering hamstring injurySpeaking ahead of her title defence, Obiri admitted the memories of last year's triumph remain special."Last year's TCS New York City Marathon was a dream come true, from breaking the course record and capturing my second title to celebrating with the incredible fans who line every mile of the course. New York always brings out the best in me, and I'm excited to return and feel the energy of each borough during such a historic year,” she said.Obiri will face one of the strongest women's marathon fields assembled this season. Three-time Olympic champion Sifan Hassan returns after placing sixth in New York last year. The Dutch star, who boasts a personal best of 2:13:44 from the 2023 Chicago Marathon, missed this year's London Marathon because of an Achilles injury.Reason for Kenyan athletics legend’s gruelling 840km run revealedAlso lining up will be 2024 champion Sheila Chepkirui, Uruguay's World Championships bronze medallist Julia Paternain, American half marathon record holder Weini Kelati, who is set for her marathon debut, Ethiopia's Gotytom Gebreslase, Kenya's Viola Cheptoo, and two-time Boston Marathon champion Edna Kiplagat.In the men's race, Kipruto will aim to successfully defend the title he won on his New York debut in 2025 after edging a thrilling finish. The Olympic bronze medallist will face familiar rivals, including former champions Geoffrey Kamworor and Abdi Nageeye.Kamworor, a two-time New York winner in 2017 and 2019, is chasing a third title, while Nageeye returns after winning the 2024 edition.Cherotich out to spoil Yavi’s record bid at Lausanne Diamond LeagueThe men's field is further strengthened by North American marathon record holder Conner Mantz, two-time Houston Marathon champion Zouhair Talbi and Joel Reichow, who was the fastest American in last year's race.##NAJAVA_MECA_9901471##Meanwhile, Swiss star Marcel Hug returns to defend his wheelchair crown as he bids to extend his remarkable record with an eighth New York City Marathon title.
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