BY SUKHDEV CHHATBAR
….Obiri, Kipruto lead stars for
New York Marathon tomorrow
Thirty-seven years after crossing the finish line as the New York City Marathon champion, Tanzania’s Juma Ikangaa is returning to the city that holds one of his proudest sporting memories.
Ikangaa is among marathon legends invited to mark the 50th anniversary of the race’s five-borough course, with this year’s marathon scheduled for tomorrow, Sunday, November 1, 2026.
He left for New York on Wednesday night. “I am excited to be part of this 50th anniversary. It has reminded me of my proud victory of 1989,” Ikangaa told The Arusha News from New York. “It is great to touch base on old memories”, he added.
On November 5, 1989, Ikangaa completed the marathon in two hours, eight minutes and one second, winning the men’s title and setting a course record. His performance placed Tanzania at the centre of attention on one of distance running’s biggest stages.
His N ew York triumph crowned a distinguished international career that included victories in Melbourne in 1983 and 1984, Tokyo in 1984 and 1986, Fukuoka in 1986 and Beijing in 1987.
Now, the invitation offers him an opportunity to revisit the setting of that triumph and join others whose achievements helped shape the race’s history.
Among the former champions for the festivities is American Bill Rodgers from Newington, Connecticut. Rodgers won four consecutive New York City Marathon titles from 1976 to 1979, beginning with the first race through all five boroughs.
The marathon began in 1970 within Central Park. In 1976, it expanded into a citywide race through Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan and the Bronx—the transformation being celebrated this year.
Nearly 60,000 runners are expected to tackle the 42.195-kilometre course before finishing in Central Park.
For Ikangaa, the journey back brings an opportunity to celebrate a race that became part of his own story—and a victory that put Tanzania in its record books.
New York City.
Kenya’s defending champions Hellen Obiri and Benson Kipruto headline a strong international field for the New York City Marathon tomorrow, Sunday, November 1, as the race celebrates 50 years of its five-borough course.
Obiri won last year’s women’s race in two hours, 19 minutes and 51 seconds, breaking the course record. Kipruto claimed the men’s title in two hours, eight minutes and nine seconds after a closely contested sprint finish against compatriot Alexander Mutiso.
The women’s competition includes the Netherlands’ reigning Olympic marathon champion Sifan Hassan and Kenya’s Sheila Chepkirui, the 2024 New York winner.
Other leading women announced are Ethiopia’s former world champion Gotytom Gebreslase and Kenya’s Edna Kiplagat, whose victories include New York, Boston and London. American half-marathon record holder Weini Kelati is scheduled to make her marathon debut.
In the men’s race, Kipruto faces fellow Kenyan Geoffrey Kamworor, who won in 2017 and 2019 and the Netherlands’ Abdi Nageeye, the 2024 champion.
Ethiopia’s Deresa Geleta, Kenya’s CyBrian Kotut and American marathon record holder Conner Mantz are also among the announced contenders.
