Hellen Obiri wins NYC Marathon 2023
She came back, saw, and conquered: On athlete Hellen Obiri takes the victory in New York in her second attempt and becomes the first woman to win the Boston and New York Marathon titles in the same year since 1989.
New York, New York, November 5, 2023 – A year after setting out on her marathon journey, Hellen Obiri returned to New York City with a score to settle. A respectable but not wholly satisfying marathon debut in the previous year had seen her fade to sixth place on the last kilometers of the race. Today, the marathon world witnessed a triumphant comeback as Obiri clinched her second major marathon victory of the year in a thrilling finish.
Starting in a field stacked with marquee names like Brigid Kosei and Peres Jepchirchir (KEN) and 10,000m world champion Letesenbet Gidey from Ethiopia, Obiri had clearly learned her lessons from last year. The 33-year-old refueled well, bode her time, and avoided taking on too much time in the lead. It was only on the last 400 meters that she pulled away from fellow track star Letesenbet Gidey to win the race by six seconds in 2:27:23.
Gidey finished in 2:27:29, and defending champion Sharon Lokedi of Kenya crossed the line in third (2:27:33). With her victory, Obiri became the first woman to win the Boston and New York City Marathon titles in the same year since Norwegian Ingrid Kristiansen in 1989.
It was only in 2022 that Obiri made the strategic move to Boulder, Colorado, to fully focus on her marathon training under the expert guidance of Dathan Ritzenhein, coach of the On Athletics Club. The move allowed her to focus on fine-tuning her marathon skills and forging a winning strategy. In the course of a single year, Obiri went from her sixth-place marathon debut to winning the prestigious Boston Marathon to finally taking the New York crown in her second attempt.
Three-time Olympian Dathan Ritzenhein had unwavering faith in her potential and progress: "Incredible! After being wheeled off in a chair to the medical tent after the race last year, the joy of her crossing the finish line in victory today was amazing. What a difference a year makes.”
Today’s triumph is a testament to Obiri’s remarkable talent, resilience, and relentless pursuit of excellence that characterizes the world of long-distance running. Her redemption and victory in New York add another remarkable chapter to her storied career, and the world eagerly anticipates what she will achieve next on the marathon stage.
About On
On was born in the Swiss Alps with one goal: to revolutionize the sensation of running by empowering all to run on clouds. Thirteen years after market launch, On delivers industry-disrupting innovation in premium footwear, apparel, and accessories for high-performance running, outdoor, and all-day activities. Fueled by customer recommendation, On’s award-winning CloudTec® innovation, purposeful design, and groundbreaking strides in sportswear’s circular economy have attracted a fast-growing global fan base — inspiring humans to explore, discover and dream on.
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