2016 New York City Marathon

Conley, Huddle Lead Contingent of Marathon Debuts In NYC

Conley, Huddle Lead Contingent of Marathon Debuts In NYC

Molly Huddle and Kim Conley are making their marathon debuts in the 2016 TCS New York City Marathon this Sunday.

Nov 3, 2016 by Meg Bellino
Conley, Huddle Lead Contingent of Marathon Debuts In NYC
Molly Huddle and Kim Conley are making their marathon debuts in the 2016 TCS New York City Marathon this Sunday. How do their current times stack up compared to Olympians Deena Kastor, Kara Goucher, and Shalane Flanagan, who made their marathon debuts in NYC in 2001, 2008, and 2010, respectively?

Current PBs
Molly Huddle Kim Conley
10,000m 30:13.17 (American record) 31:48.71
Half Marathon 1:07:41 1:09:44

PBs before marathon debut
Deena Kastor (2001 Debut) Kara Goucher (2008 Debut) Shalane Flanagan (2010 Debut)
10,000m 31:51.05 30:55.16 30:22.22
Half Marathon 1:10:08 1:06:57 1:08:37

Kastor finished seventh in NYC in 2001 and went on to set the American record of 2:19:36 later in 2006. Goucher's debut time of 2:25:53 set the American course record, placed third in the field, and still stands as the fastest debut by an American, a record she thinks will go down on Sunday. Flanagan finished second in 2:28:40 in 2010, directly ahead of now two-time champion Mary Keitany, who was--surprise!--making her debut.

So New York isn't just the place where the top Americans come to debut over 26.2 miles. Keitany ran 2:29:01 behind Flanagan that day in New York and entered the competition as the reigning world champion in the half marathon. She has since dropped over 10 minutes (2:18:37, the No. 2 time in history), won two-straight London Marathons in 2011 and 2012 and two NYC titles in 2014 and 2015, and finished fourth in the London Olympic Marathon. 

Watch this week's Workout Wednesday: Molly Huddle Does 7xMile!


Oregon TC and 2012 Olympic 10K silver medalist Sally Kipyego of Kenya is also making a debut of sorts, as she dropped out of the race in 2015. Kipyego only finished sixth in the Kenyan Olympic Trials and has been quietly training all summer for another go at the marathon. And it would be remiss to leave out Olympic triathlon gold medalist Gwen Jorgensen, who will be making her marathon debut after running 40-50 miles per week and racing in several triathlons since Rio.

RELATED: Workout Wednesday: Gwen Jorgensen Run-Bike-Run

So between Huddle, Conley, Kipyego, and Jorgensen, who will have the fastest debut? 

[polldaddy poll="9569962"]