Benson Kipruto edges Mutiso in thrilling NYC Marathon finish
By Kenneth Mwenda, November 2, 2025Benson Kipruto edged out Alexander Mutiso in a thrilling sprint finish to claim the men’s New York City Marathon in 2:08:09 on Sunday, November 2, 2025.
After 26.2 miles of intense racing, the victory came down to mere inches, with runners having to time their lean perfectly as the official finish line often sits just beyond the tape.
The win makes Kipruto, 34, the first man to complete a sweep of the U.S. marathon majors, having previously won Chicago and Boston. He also won the 2024 Tokyo Marathon and took bronze at the Paris Olympics.
Mutiso, 29, the 2024 London Marathon champion, was among the pre-race favourites alongside Kipruto. Both men recorded an unofficial 2:08:09, and it marked the first time either the men’s or women’s elite race in New York City was decided by less than a second.
Kenya dominated the women’s race as well. Hellen Obiri won in a course record 2:19:51, breaking Margaret Okayo’s 22-year-old record of 2:22:31. Obiri, who previously won Boston and New York in 2023, ran shoulder to shoulder with runner-up Sharon Lokedi (2:20:07) before pulling away ahead of the final turn.
Last year’s champion Sheila Chepkirui finished third in 2:20:24. The top three women all ran under the 2003 course record.
Marathon highlights
American Fiona O’Keeffe, the 2024 Olympic Trials winner, finished fourth in 2:22:49, the fastest ever American time in the New York City Marathon. She was followed by Annie Frisbie (2:24:12) and Olympic gold medallist Sifan Hassan (2:24:43), who had returned from winning the Sydney Marathon in August.
In the wheelchair races, American Susannah Scaroni won her third New York title, followed by Tatyana McFadden. Swiss Marcel Hug claimed a record-extending seventh win in the men’s wheelchair race.
The 2025 New York City Marathon, held across the five boroughs, marked the final World Marathon Major of the year. The Valencia Marathon in Spain, scheduled for December 7, remains the last major marathon on the calendar and is expected to produce fast times.