After eight months on the World Marathon Major circuit, which kicked off in March in Tokyo, the final stop of the tour is here — and where better to wrap it up than 'The City That Never Sleeps'?

Unsurprisingly, the world’s largest marathon has once again assembled a field packed with Olympic champions, former world record holders, and more than a few rising stars ready for their breakout moment.

The 2025 TCS New York City Marathon promises a little bit of everything for fans around the globe, and I wouldn’t expect anything less than the stars showing out when it matters most.

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Sharon Lokedi, Hellen Obiri, & Sifan Hassan Looking To Make Statement

What do you get when you pit three of the best marathoners in the world against one another? Hopefully, a thrilling race capped off with one of them breaking Margaret Okayo's (KEN) longstanding course record of 2:22:31.

A guy can dream, can't he?

For what it's worth, not many women have been able to truly challenge Okayo's historic feat, but if anyone's going to rise to the occasion, it's certainly one of these three women. 

For starters, Sharon Lokedi (KEN) is not unfamiliar with the course, winning her debut at the distance in the 'Big Apple' just three years ago in 2022. 

Not only has the two-time World Marathon Major winner already proved she can win on this course, but she's already taken down fellow countrywoman Hellen Obiri once this year.

Her head-to-head win over Obiri came earlier this year in Boston, where she pulled away by just under 20 seconds, breaking the tape as the clock read 2:17:22, with Obiri crossing in 2:17:41.

However, Obiri is no slouch, and more than likely wants to even the series with a statement victory in New York, which would be her second since moving up to the distance in 2022. 

Since her first ever marathon, only four women have ever beaten her head-to-head, and two of them will be toeing the line right next to her this weekend.

Now here's arguably the most entertaining contender, none other than Sifan Hassan. 

Whether she's running the 5k, 10k, and marathon – all in the span of under 10 days, or beating the odds every time she races, Hassan is truly 'must-watch' television when it comes to long-distance running. 

The Dutch star already has two marathons under her belt this year, finishing third in London and snagging a course record in Sydney. Still, another medal, ideally one that's gold, would certainly keep her trend of triples alive.

The only issue is that she raced in Australia on August 31, and will have only had just over 60 days of recovery and training in between, but let's be real. If there is anyone talented enough to pull this off, it's without a doubt Hassan.

At the end of the day, either one of these women could find themselves alone with the pace car on Sunday, and we'll just have to wait and see who's got it in them. 

Is A Kenyan Sweep In The Cards? 

While it’s safe to say the men’s race may not carry quite the same level of anticipation as the women’s field, there’s no doubt we’re still in for a spectacle up front.

Headlined by a Kenyan contingent of Albert Korir, Benson Kipruto, Alexander Mutiso, and Eliud Kipchoge, the 2025 New York City Marathon could be a historic showdown in its own right.

Korir, who broke the tape on this very course in 2021, returns looking to add yet another podium finish to his résumé. Kipruto, fresh off an Olympic bronze from Paris 2024, brings the kind of experience and patience that can break down even the most ambitious challengers.

Meanwhile, Mutiso, the reigning London Marathon champion, is hoping to prove that the next generation is ready to take over — whether the veterans are ready to hand over the torch or not.

And of course, with the greatest ever, Eliud Kipchoge, lining up alongside his timeless Ethiopian counterpart Kenenisa Bekele, it’s shaping up to be an eventful Sunday morning in New York.

The Americans Are Venturing Into The Unknown

While the odds of seeing them right at the front may be slim, it would be unwise to count out any of the gutsy Americans. Ideally, they’ll make me eat my words and exceed expectations this weekend.

On the women’s side, American record holder Emily Sisson is toeing the line in her first marathon of the year, joined by Olympic bronze medalist Molly Seidel. At this point, neither has enough recent results to confidently gauge where their fitness stands, but both have proven they can dig as deep as anyone when it matters most.

On the men’s side, Biya Simbassa, the fifth-fastest marathoner in U.S. history, leads the American contingent and will be joined by three highly anticipated debutants: Joe Klecker, Hillary Bor, and Charlie Hicks. All three have impressive track credentials, and with Klecker and Bor both boasting Olympic résumés, expect them to put themselves in the mix early.

Personally, I’ll be cheering for everyone, but I’ll be wearing my #TokyoJoe shirt, so perhaps I’m a little biased.

How To Watch The NYC Marathon In The United States?

National coverage of the 2025 NYC Marathon will be available on ESPN 2 starting at 8 AM ET. The broadcast will also be available live in Spanish on ESPN3. ABC may show the coverage on local listings.

When Is The 2025 TCS New York City Marathon?

The race begins at 8:00 am ET with the men's professional wheelchair division. The professional women's open division will follow at 8:35 am ET, followed by the professional men's open division at 9:05 am ET. 

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