Benson Kipruto returns to New York on Sunday, 1 November, with a crown to defend and a reputation as one of the most dependable big-race marathoners in the world.
A champion’s record
Kipruto’s CV is one of the strongest in the sport. He won the Boston Marathon in 2021, Chicago in 2022, Tokyo in 2024 and New York in 2025, a set of titles that spans four of the World Marathon Majors. Last year’s New York win came after a dramatic sprint finish, and it was part of a historic Kenyan double, with Hellen Obiri winning the women’s race on the same day.
New York holds a special place for him. It is where his marathon career began, and he now returns as the man everyone else has to beat.
Speed born of necessity
Kipruto has spoken about how close finishes in recent years have forced him to sharpen his finishing speed. In a race as tactical as New York, where the course rarely produces fast early splits, that late kick can be the difference between winning and finishing on the podium.
Kenyans in the men’s field
- Benson Kipruto, defending champion
- Cybrian Kotut
- Edward Cheserek
- Patrick Kiprop, making his marathon debut
A strong supporting cast
Kipruto will not be alone. Cybrian Kotut and Edward Cheserek add depth and experience to the Kenyan challenge, while Patrick Kiprop takes on the marathon distance for the first time. The race will also feature Olympic champion Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands, adding star power to the weekend.
The final major of the year
New York closes the 2026 World Marathon Majors season, which opened in Tokyo in March and also included Boston, London, Sydney, Berlin and Chicago. This year also brought major news for African running: the Cape Town Marathon passed its evaluation and has been confirmed as a World Marathon Major, the first on the continent.
After Amos Kipruto’s brilliant win in Chicago, Kenyan fans have every reason to hope for another big day in the Big Apple.
