Jepchirchir’s last-minute withdrawal from New York City Marathon explained
By Joel Sang, November 5, 2023Kenya’s hopes of dominating the New York Marathon on Sunday, November 5, 2023, suffered another blow after Peres Jepchirchir confirmed her withdrawal.
Jepchirchir, Brigid Kosgei, Edna Kiplagat, Sharon Lokedi, and Hellen Obiri had been entered as Kenya’s representatives in the women’s race, but the Olympic champion has withdrawn following an injury.
Jepchirchir explains withdrawal
The marathoner had already travelled to the United States, but an injury she was carrying eventually ruled her out, leaving Kenya with a thinner delegation.
“I sustained a lower-leg injury during the last workout of my marathon training. I travelled to New York with the hopes that it would improve, but after two days of physical therapy, we have made the decision that I should not start the race.
“I still hope to defend my Olympic title in Paris next year and do not want to do anything that might put that in jeopardy. I wish good luck to everybody running on Sunday,” Jepchirchir explained in a statement on her social media platforms.
Jepchirchir, 30, was eyeing history in the New York race as she is the only athlete to win the Olympic, New York City, and Boston Marathons. She has been unbeaten since winning her debut in Boston last year, until Dutch runner Sifan Hassan defeated her in London last April.
Kenya’s remaining representatives
Lokedi is the marathon’s defending champion, while Brigid Kosgei, an Olympic silver medallist and who was the marathon world record holder until September, is among the athletes who will carry the country’s hopes.
Obiri and 2023 Tokyo Marathon winner Rosemary Wanjiru are the only Kenyan women who have earned podium finishes at a World Marathon Majors race in 2023 and are also hopeful of delivering wins for Kenya.
Obiri finished sixth in her debut in the New York Marathon in 2022 but went on to win the Boston race, which was just her second marathon, and hopes to write more impressive history as she lines up at the New York course.
On the other hand, Kosgei, who is a back-to-back London marathon winner and former world record holder, will be making her debut at the New York Marathon. The experienced runner pulled out of the London Marathon last time, just four minutes into the race, with a hamstring concern. Kosgei’s last victory came at the 2022 Tokyo Marathon.