Kenyan runners dominate a dramatic day as Obiri sets a new benchmark in the women’s field and Kipruto edges Mutiso by a hair.
The New York City Marathon delivered a sensational edition in 2025, as Hellen Obiri set a new course record in the women’s race and Benson Kipruto won the men’s event in the closest finish in the marathon’s history. Both champions hail from Kenya, which swept the podium in both elite divisions.
Obiri, 35, defended her title with a gritty performance, pulling away from Sharon Lokedi in the final mile to finish in two hours, nineteen minutes and fifty-one seconds. This time obliterated the long-standing course record by nearly three minutes, previously set by Margaret Okayo in 2003. Lokedi finished second in 2:20:07, while Sheila Chepkirui took third in 2:20:24, with all three bettering the previous record. Dutch Olympic champion Sifan Hassan crossed the line in sixth, unable to sustain the punishing pace in the closing miles.
The men’s race produced astonishing drama, as Kipruto and Alexander Mutiso ran stride for stride over the final hundred meters. Kipruto, 34, appeared to have the advantage entering Central Park, but Mutiso surged desperately at the tape. The finish went to the photo, with Kipruto given the win by just two hundredths of a second, both clocking 2:08:09. Albert Korir made it a clean sweep for Kenya in third. This finish rivals any in marathon history for suspense and spectacle.
Legendary marathoner Eliud Kipchoge, twice an Olympic gold medalist, finished 17th in his New York debut, completing his quest to race all six world marathon majors as he nears his 41st birthday. The wheelchair races saw Switzerland’s Marcel Hug claim a record seventh New York win, and American Susannah Scaroni secure her third women’s title, each dominating their fields.
The New York City Marathon once again lived up to its reputation, offering record-breaking runs, unforgettable drama, and affirming the city’s global status in the world of road racing. With over fifty thousand runners crossing the finish line, spectators in all five boroughs witnessed athletic history on a crisp November day.
