Albert Korir to battle for top honours against Ethiopian charge at New York City Marathon

PREVIEW: Albert Korir to battle for top honours against Ethiopian charge at New York City Marathon

Abigael Wafula 17:08 - 04.11.2023

Albert Korir will be hoping to reclaim his New York City Marathon when he lines up against a strong field that has attracted strong Ethiopians.

The 2021 New York City Marathon champion Albert Korir will be returning to the streets of the Big Apple with the hope of reclaiming his title on Sunday.

During last year’s edition of the event, Korir encountered a health issue due to the high altitude and was unable to finish the race.

He returns this year with a different mindset, ready to conquer the streets once again. Pressure will be on him since defending champion Evans Chebet withdrew from the race.

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However, he will face stiff competition from the Ethiopians who are also looking to rule the streets of New York once again. He will enjoy the company of compatriot Edward Cheserek, who won the Copenhagen Half Marathon in 59:11 in September and will also be making his marathon debut.

Tamirat Tola is the fastest in the men’s field with his Personal Best time of 2:03:39 recorded in Amsterdam in 2021, but competing on a course like New York’s is about more than quick times. The former world champion finished fourth in New York in 2018 and 2019.

Looking to deny him will be his compatriot Shura Kitata, as he aims to go one better than his runner-up finishes in New York last year and in 2018.

The 2:06:01 he ran in 2018 remains the third-fastest time in the race's history, while he also won in London in 2020 but his most recent marathon result is the 14th-place finish he recorded in Boston in April.

Ethiopia’s Jemal Yimer finished fourth in the half marathon at the World Road Running Championships in Riga and was third in the 2021 Boston Marathon and he will also be starting in New York.

Dutch record-holder Abdi Nageeye finished third in New York last year, following a fifth-place finish in 2021 – the year in which he claimed Olympic silver in Sapporo. He clocked 2:05:32 to place third in Rotterdam in April.

There was medal success for Israel’s Teferi in Budapest, however, as the European silver medallist became the world silver medallist. He will be competing at the New York Marathon for the first time but did contest the city’s half marathon in March, finishing 13th in 1:03:41.

North American record-holder Cam Levins, meanwhile, will hope to build on his fifth-place finish in Tokyo, where he ran that area record of 2:05:36 in March.