Kenyan runner Hellen Obiri made history at the 54th edition of the TCS New York City Marathon on Sunday, November 2, 2025, by breaking the women’s course record with a time of 2:19:51.

According to Athletics Weekly, Obiri’s performance not only secured her second title in New York, following her 2023 victory, but also made her the first female athlete to run a sub-2:19:51 marathon in the city.

The achievement broke Margaret Okayo’s longstanding record of 2:22:31, set in 2003, by nearly three minutes.

Obiri’s triumph cemented her status among the world’s elite marathoners. A double world champion in 2017 and 2019 and the 2024 Paris Olympic bronze medalist, she added the New York crown to her recent 2024 Boston Marathon victory. The win makes her the first woman in over three decades to claim both titles in consecutive years, marking another milestone in her career.

Kenyan sweep dominates podium

Obiri led a dominant Kenyan sweep of the women’s podium, with Sharon Lokedi and Sheila Chepkirui finishing second and third, respectively. Their collective success underscored Kenya’s continued dominance in long-distance running, widely attributed to the nation’s rigorous high-altitude training programs.

The 2025 TCS New York City Marathon, a 42.195 km race traversing the five boroughs of New York, attracted a strong field of global talent and top-tier competitors. The event’s prize purse placed it among the most lucrative in world athletics, heightening the stakes for the elite runners.

Elite field and big rewards

Winners of the men’s and women’s races are set to receive $100,000 (Ksh12.9 million) each, while second and third places will take home $60,000 (Ksh7.7 million) and $40,000 (Ksh5.1 million), respectively.

The marathon also featured prominent names, including Kenya’s Eliud Kipchoge, the former world record holder, who made his debut in New York. Joined by compatriot Benson Kipruto, the Olympic gold medalist and Boston and Chicago Marathon champion, Kipchoge said, “Running the TCS New York City Marathon has been a long-standing goal of mine… I look forward to the city’s energy and the challenge of the iconic course.”

With its history of drawing over 50,000 finishers annually, the New York City Marathon remains the world’s largest road race. Obiri’s record-breaking run not only extended Kenya’s legacy in distance running but also set a new standard in marathon history.