Linden, Keitany, and Desisa Return to Race a Fast Field in the New York City Marathon – runnersworld.com

• According to a press release issued by NYRR, the 2019 New York City Marathon will feature 2018 champion Mary Keitany, as well as fast U.S. women runners like Des Linden, Sara Hall, and Kellyn Taylor.
• In the men’s race, Ethiopian Lelisa Desisa will defend his title against American Olympians Abdi Abdirahman and Jared Ward.
• The race will take place on Sunday, November 3.

Every year on the first Sunday in November, the New York City Marathon draws some of the best marathoners in the world to duke it out over bridges, avenues with thousands of spectators, and rolling hills for the chance to break the tape in Central Park. Winning the largest marathon in the world in the heart of NYC is an experience that can’t quite be replicated: just ask 2017 winner Shalane Flanagan, who famously screamed “F–k yes!” in the last hundred yards of her race before crossing the finish.

This year’s race, taking place on Sunday, November 3, has several contenders for the podium spots, with an elite field that includes the returning champions from 2018 as well as many top Americans looking to notch another race in their belts before the 2020 Olympic Marathon Trials next February. Here’s who is scheduled to run this year.

Watch: Lelisa Desia, Mary Keitany win 2018 New York City Marathon.

The Women’s Race

In the women’s division, 2018 champion Mary Keitany of Kenya is aiming for her fifth NYC title. Last year, the women’s-only marathon record holder (2:17:01) won the race in 2:22:48, the second-fastest time ever recorded on the course. Challenging her will be stellar international runners like 2019 Boston Marathon champion Worknesh Degefa and 2019 NYC Half champion Joyceline Jepkosgei, who also holds the half marathon world record.

There’s also a fast crew of U.S. women that includes 2018 Boston champion Des Linden, who is coming off her sixth-place finish at Boston in April; Sara Hall, who won the NYRR Mini 10K in June (she will also race Berlin in late September); and Kellyn Taylor, who placed 3rd at the USATF Outdoor Championship 10,000 meters last month.

Other American favorites to watch out for in the women’s race are Roberta Groner, a 41-year-old nurse who ran a personal best of 2:29:06 in Rotterdam this year, as well as Allie Kieffer, who holds a marathon personal best of 2:28:12 and placed 7th for women in New York City last year.

The Men’s Race

The main focus will be on 2018 winner Lelisa Desisa of Ethiopia, who also won Boston in 2013 and 2015. Last year, he beat Ethiopian Shura Kitata in an all-out sprint to the finish, breaking the tape in 2:05:59, which is the second-fastest time ever recorded on the course.

Desisa will be challenged by Geoffrey Kamworor of Kenya, who won New York City in 2017, as well as U.S. Olympians Abdi Abdirahman and Jared Ward, who finished 8th in Boston this year in a personal best of 2:09:25.

“I love New York. My family and I have had fantastic experiences there and we are giddy to come back,” Ward wrote in a blog post for Saucony, his sponsor, about why he’s running the marathon this year. “This course also has some amazing energy.”

Digital Editor Hailey first got hooked on running news as an intern with Running Times, and now she reports on elite runners and cyclists, feel-good stories, and training pieces for Runner’s World and Bicycling magazines.