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(c) 2024 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved. Published with permission. NEW YORK (03-Nov) -- In two exciting races which both boiled down to just two contenders in the final kilometer, Kenyan Sheila Chepkirui and Dutchman Abdi Nageeye won their first TCS New York City Marathons on a gloriously clear and chilly morning here.  Chepkirui, 33, pulled away from compatriot and defending champion Hellen Obiri with a little more than 800 meters to go and won in 2:24:35 (1:10:36 for the second half).  Nageeye, 35, made a similar move at the same spot against 2022 race champion Evans Chebet of Kenya and became the first Dutch athlete --and the first European man since Giacomo Leone of Italy in 1996-- to win here.  His time was 2:07:39 to Chebet's 2:07:45.  Both winners won $100,000 in prize money. WOMEN STICK TOGETHER The all-women's elite race began conservatively, just 18:16 through the first 5K.  But the pace picked up once the mostly flat section of the course in Brooklyn was reached.  There were 20 women in the lead pack through 10K, including eight-time Fifth Avenue Mile champion Jenny Simpson of Boulder, Colo.  The 38 year-old announced last week that this would be the last professional race of her career (she would finish 18th in 2:31:54). "The energy was amazing," Simpson told Race Results Weekly.  "I got to choose a final race, and it had to be New York.  I am not from New York, but the best of my running has happened in New York City.  So, I feel like if it's possible for me to have a hometown crowd in the United States, it's New York City, and they gave that to me today.  All through the course, all 26 miles, they were yelling my name. It really moved me today." Chepkirui was the nominal leader at halfway (1:13:59), and the lead pack was still 20-strong with all of the race's best athletes still there, including Kenyans Obiri, Sharon Lokedi, and Vivian Cheruiyot; Ethiopia's Dera Dida; Bahrain's Eunice Chumba; and the United States' Dakotah Popehn, Sara Vaughn, and Kellyn Taylor. Cheruiyot, 41, was feeling good.  The last time she raced in New York was in the New York City Half-Marathon in 2019.  On a very cold March day, her body temperature dropped so much that she was forced to drop out and had to go to the hospital. "I still remember where I stopped," Cheruiyot told reporters today.  "Today the weather was good, at least it was not that bad.  It was really freezing from the starting point, but then it was OK." The first big move happened on the Queensboro Bridge where the athlete pass through the 25 km point high above the East River.  Chepkirui put in a surge and the race began to break up.  By the 30 km mark the lead pack had reached the more manageable size of ten: Chepkirui, Obiri, Teferi, Dida, Cheruiyot, Vaughn, Lokedi, Chumba, Britain's Lily Partridge, and Switzerland's Fabienne Schlumpf.  That downhill 5-kilometer segment was run in 16:52, the fastest split of the race so far.  Chepkirui felt strong and in control. "New York is a bit challenging," she said.  "It's uphill and downhill, not like London and Berlin. New York takes a lot of strength."  She continued: "Here it's not about time, it's about winning." With that in mind, she dropped the pace in the next 5-kilometer segment, splitting 16:36 through 35 km and cutting the lead pack down to just five: Chepkirui, Obiri, Teferi, Cheruiyot and Chumba.  Vaughn was 17 seconds back in seventh place and was running as the top American.  She had dropped out of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon three weeks before with an illness, but was feeling great today. "Sometimes all it takes is to get a chance," she said later about New York Road Runners' decision to give her a last-minute place in the race. Chepkirui wasn't done pressing the pace.  As the five leaders ran south on Fifth Avenue and entered Central Park at 90th Street, they were running faster than ever.  Running single file, Chepkirui led Obiri and Cheruiyot.  They hit the 40 km point at 2:17:47, running the fastest 5K segment of the race, 16:24.  That set up the final two-woman clash between Chepkirui and Obiri when the pair entered Central Park for the final kilometer to the finish.  Chepkirui knew Obiri was one of the all-time greats, and it would take a special effort to beat her. "I know Hellen was strong," Chepkirui said.  "What was in my mind I say to myself, let me push.  In the last mile I say to myself, I give my best.  With 600 (meters) to go I say to myself, I have to push harder." With 800 meters to go, Chepkirui led by three strides.  She took a look back and realized that Obiri wasn't closing the gap. "I saw she was not coming," Chepkirui said. From there, the adidas-sponsored athlete sailed to the finish line and beat Obiri by a comfortable 14 seconds.  Cheruiyot got third in 2:25:21, and Chumba fourth in 2:25:58.  Schlumpf took fifth in 2:26:31, and Vaughn sixth in 2:26:56. "Winning today means a lot to me," said Chepkirui.  She added: "I'm really happy for the win." Obiri was at peace with her runner-up finish.  She had won the Boston Marathon last April and had taken the bronze medal at the Paris Olympics.  Getting second here was a fine season-ending performance. "For me it was a good race," Obiri said.  "Three marathons in a year; I am so happy to finish the year." Vaughn was thrilled to be the top American, especially after dropping out in Chicago. "I have a very full life and I have designed it that way," said the mother of four, who also sells real estate.  She added: "This is pretty special." NAGEEYE THOUGHT ABOUT PARIS What was driving Nageeye today was his disappointing performance at the Paris Olympic Marathon last August.  He said today that he knew he was having a bad day in Paris just six kilometers in, and ended up dropping out in the 41st kilometer.  He went home and decided to focus on running well in New York, instead. "I went back to training," he said.  "You can do something great in one of the best marathons in the world.  Every day I was thinking about Paris." Like the women, the men stayed together in the early parts of the race, and it wasn't until the 25 km mark where something important happened.  Descending the Queensboro Bridge Chebet, the 2022 race champion, surged down the steep hill where the course spills onto First Avenue in Manhattan.  Six athletes were able to respond: Nageeye, Kenyans Geoffrey Kamworor, Albert Korir and Wesley Kiptoo, and Ethiopians Addisu Gobena and Tamirat Tola.  Tola was the race's defending champion who had also won the Olympic Marathon last August. Nageeye --who had finished third, fourth and fifth in his previous appearances at the TCS New York City Marathon-- knew he needed to cover Chebet's move, but not to overdo it.  He knew how challenging the second half of the course would be. "I think 100% I knew the course," he said.  He continued: "Last year I had a lot of problems with my stitch.  My goal was not to have that happen again." Chebet ran 14:09 from 25 to 30 km (nearly all downhill), then 14:23 from 30 to 35 km.  That left only Chebet, Nageeye, and Kamworor in the lead group.  Tola was four seconds back, and Korir was eight seconds adrift.  Conner Mantz, the top American, was in seventh place 64 seconds behind. Coming down the final hill in Central Park before the course turns west onto Central Park South, Nageeye and Chebet worked together to drop the rest of the field.  The pair were alone re-entering the Park before the finish where Nageeye made his final bid for victory with about 900 meters to go.  It was a long-time coming for an athlete who had run 23 marathons and who had never won one of the Abbott World Marathon Majors. "I knew at the end I have a little bit more in my tank," he said.  He added: "At the beginning, nobody was beating me today." Chebet took second in 2:07:45, and Korir passed both Kamworor and Tola to take third in 2:08-flat (it was Korir's fourth podium finish in New York).  Kamworor, who had made the podium here in all four previous appearances, finished fifth in 2:08:50. Mantz, who won the USA Olympic Team Trials Marathon last February and was the top American at the Paris Olympics (eighth place), was also the top American today, finishing sixth in 2:09:00.  He was satisfied with his performance, but a little disappointed that the pace of the race wasn't faster. "I was really excited to be part of the New York City Marathon," Mantz said.  He added: "I kind of got destroyed when Evans made his move." ** The professional wheelchair titles went to Americans Susannah Scaroni and Daniel Romanchuk.  Scaroni, who had a terrible race at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon three weeks ago after getting a flat tire, totally dominated here today.  She clocked 1:29:06 and won by eight and one-half minutes.  Romanchuk won in a three-way sprint over Briton David Weir and Japanese Tomoki Suzuki.  Romanchuk was timed in 1:36:31.  Six-time champion Marcel Hug of Switzerland was fourth. PHOTO: Eventual champion Abdi Nageeye (right) battles with Evans Chebet in the 26th mile of the 2024 TCS New York City Marathon (photo by Jane Monti for Race Results Weekly)

(c) 2024 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved. Published with permission. NEW YORK (02-Nov) -- With powerful late-race moves, Ahmed Muhumed and Annie Rodenfels won the USATF 5K titles at this morning's Abbott Dash to the Finish Line which runs from the United Nations to Central Park.  On a cool and crisp morning, Muhumed, 29, from Flagstaff, Ariz., clocked 13:38, while Rodenfels, 28, from Boston, Mass., ran 15:20.  Both athletes earned $12,000 in prize money in what was the final event of the 2024 USATF Running Circuit. MUHUMED MAKES BIG MOVE Muhumed, who represents Hoka Northern Arizona Elite, was the runner-up at this race last year to Morgan Beadlescomb, and he was keen to move up to the top step of the podium today.  Just before the two-mile point, the former Boise State athlete put in a massive surge, dropping the entire field in just a matter of seconds.  He was so far ahead that it was impossible to see any of his challengers behind him on the broadcast coverage. "I knew those kickers would be coming for me," Muhumed told Race Results Weekly.  "We've been building strength and I just wanted to test out what we've been building, whether it would stick." But the toughest part of this net-uphill race still lay ahead.  Muhumed climbed up the Central Park service road to the well-known "loop road," used by thousands of joggers every day, then turned left for the long downhill to the south end of the park.  His lead looked safe, but the main field --including 2023 World Athletics Road Mile Championships bronze medalist Sam Prakel-- were coming for him, using the downhill to gain ground. "The whole race there were a variety of different strengths; there were speedsters, there were milers, good kickers, and then there were hot marathon guys," Muhumed observed.  "I felt like I was right in the middle.  I was hybrid.  So, if it came down to a kick I didn't want to play that card." The final 400 meters of the race are uphill, and Muhumed leaned forward and tried to maintain his pace.  When he hit the relative flat just before the finish line at Tavern on the Green, he shot a glance behind him and saw that Prakel was close. "I know I gave it all," Muhumed said.  "From a mile out I was pushing it." Prakel, who has a mile personal best of 3:50.94, was trying hard to catch Muhumed.  He had decided to hold back when Muhumed made his big move a few minutes earlier to be sure he had saved something for the finish. "I was a little hesitant when he made that move around two miles," Prakel told Race Results Weekly.  He continued: "I just said, save enough for a kick.  I went just a little too late." Prakel, who represents adidas, got within one second of Muhumed, and his official time was 13:39.  Third went to steeplechaser Brian Barraza (Roots Running Project) who clocked 13:42.  Beadlescomb (adidas) finished tenth in 13:59 and said that this was a good result given where he was in his training.  He explained that, unlike last year when he came from high altitude in Flagstaff, he had yet to start that important training phase. "We're in a totally different place," said Beadlescomb, who lives in Ann Arbor, Mich.  "We haven't even gone to Flag." Olympic steeplechaser Hillary Bor finished fifth in 13:45, and that was enough for him to win the USATF Running Circuit points title which came with a $30,000 prize.  He had come into these championships with a 7-point lead on Biya Simbassa, who finished ninth. "It's too short," said Simbassa, who is preparing for a marathon. RODENFELS RETAINS HER TITLE Rodenfels, who represents adidas and the Boston Athletic Association, won this race last year and was feeling confident. "I thought, OK, 5K on the roads, there is no one in this field who is more suited for this than me," Rodenfels told reporters.  She continued: "This is my strength, right here." Rodenfels was part of an early lead pack which included USATF Running Circuit points leader Emma Grace Hurley (Asics), Emily Venters (Nike) and rookie Bailey Hertenstein (Nike Union Athletics Club).  Venters briefly took the lead early in the third mile, but Rodenfels put in a powerful move and got back in front. "I feel strongly that in races if you're going to take the lead... you need to make an actual move, especially on the roads," Rodenfels explained.  She added: "If people went with me, that's fine, but I wanted to test where they were at." The move stuck.  Rodenfels had a five-second gap at the finish line over Venters (15:25).  Hurley took third (15:31), and Hertenstein fourth (15:32) in her pro racing debut.  Holding up two fingers on each hand as she broke the tape, Rodenfels was clearly excited to have retained her title. "It's pretty awesome," she told Race Results Weekly.  "It was exciting.  You always hope that you're the one who comes back and wins again.  But you just never know.  It's such a weird time of year to know what shape other people will be in." Venters, 25, had her best-ever race as a professional.  She said it really boosted her confidence, especially after struggling with depression last summer which forced her to step back from high-level training. "It was just like my old self again," she said.  "It's taken me a while to get there." Hurley's third place finish allowed her to clinch the 2024 USATF Running Circuit points title and the $30,000 top prize.  She did eight of the circuit's 11 events (seven road races and one cross country) with distances ranging from 5 km to 20 km. When a reporter suggested to her that she was America's most versatile distance runner she said, "I'll take that." Nearly 10,000 runners finished today's race including 18 girls and 12 boys who ran in the separate USATF U20 5K championships (the winners were Zariel Macchia, 18, 17:27 and Tyler Mogavero, 16, 16:11). PHOTO: Ahmed Muhumed celebrates after winning the 2024 USATF 5K Championships at the Abbott Dash to the Finish in New York City (photo by Jane Monti for Race Results Weekly)

In our most recent Running USA webinar, we hosted a fascinating conversation about the role of influencers in promoting, branding and growing race participation. Panelists Lauri Abrahamsen (Race Director, SF Half Marathon and Berkeley Half Marathon), Alexi Pappas (elite athlete, author, podcaster and influencer), and Liam Fayle (sports agent, Founder of Full Circle Management) joined Jay Holder, Executive Director of Running USA, for an in-depth look at the two California races and Pappas’ role. You can view the full event recording here. The San Francisco and Berkeley Half Marathons are elevating the race experience by partnering with Olympian Alexi Pappas, who serves as the race's global ambassador. Alexi's approach goes beyond traditional ambassador roles; rather than a one-off appearance, she works closely with the marathon team to infuse creativity and inclusivity into race events. At both races, Pappas has a 10K event named for her, with the Alexi Pappas SFM10K in San Francisco and the Bravey 10K in Berkeley. Alexi brings a unique, personal energy to race weekend by collaborating on aspects like race-day shirt design, creating a "glitter bar" for a festive atmosphere, and making each race special for everyone, from local newcomers to seasoned runners. This partnership was established to showcase San Francisco’s marathon as more than just a competitive race, with Alexi bringing her global presence and local roots to attract a diverse group of participants. Her relatability and warm presence encourage runners to balance the thrill of competition with the joy of the experience. Race director Lauri Abrahamsen noted that the marathon has seen growth due to Alexi’s involvement, with last year’s event reaching over 30,000 runners. Her authenticity and connection to the Bay Area help bring in local participants, while her social reach draws in runners from far and wide, making the race a dynamic, global event. This evolving ambassador role for Alexi shifts away from the typical influencer model, bringing an interactive, community-centered experience that resonates with all runners, whether they're pursuing a personal best or simply enjoying a day within a well-rounded life. In the world of race promotion, finding the right influencer fit is critical. Abrahamsen emphasized that influencer partnerships work best when they're authentic, featuring runners who are genuinely invested in the sport and have a local following. Large-scale influencer campaigns, while flashy, often fail to generate meaningful engagement if the influencers lack true connections to the race or its community.  She noted that micro-influencers, especially those who are passionate about the event and have been part of the local running scene, often generate better engagement, even with smaller follower counts. Alexi adds that a successful partnership goes beyond metrics like follower count. True influence involves building community, shifting culture, and creating a sense of belonging. Pappas, who has seen this impact in her partnerships, finds that authentic involvement with a race—especially one that resonates personally, like a "big city marathon" with an intimate feel—makes for a more rewarding collaboration. This approach allows for hands-on engagement, from designing race merchandise to participating in various race events. For her, meaningful partnerships prioritize authenticity, community impact, and a shared vision, rather than simply driving reach through numbers. The partnership between Abrahamsen's team and Pappas is a blend of structure and spontaneity, which contributes to its success. While the race marketing team incorporates Alexi’s deliverables into a structured marketing calendar, they also maintain a flexible, casual approach, often requesting posts or shout-outs as opportunities arise. This approach fosters a collaborative environment, allowing Alexi creative freedom within the broader goal of driving race registration. The partnership's authenticity is further strengthened through organic camaraderie with other race ambassadors. Pappas notes that events like the San Francisco Marathon's shakeout run, where she joins fellow athletes and ambassadors—such as her friend and half-marathon runner Molly Seidel—create genuine connections that resonate with the race community. This spontaneous, interconnected approach, where athletes organically interact rather than feeling like isolated influencers, enriches the event experience and lends credibility to the promotion. Pappas advises race organizers to embrace flexibility with trusted partners, allowing for unique ideas and cross-promotional interactions that genuinely reflect the spirit of the sport. View the full recording for more insights.

(c) 2024 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved. Published with permission. NEW YORK (01-Nov) -- In four starts at the TCS New York City Marathon Geoffrey Kamworor has never failed to make the podium.  The 31 year-old won in both 2017 and 2019, took second in 2015, and third in 2018.  The soft-spoken Kenyan, twice the World Athletics cross country champion, is back here for the first time in five years to compete in his favorite marathon. "New York is a special race for me," Kamworor told Race Results Weekly in an interview here yesterday.  "I have raced here four times, and I've won twice, second one time, and third one time.  So, it's my fifth time and I'm really happy to be back to New York, my favorite course and my favorite marathon.  So, I'm looking forward to Sunday." Kamworor, who also won the World Athletics half-marathon title three times, first ran New York in 2015 when he was the reigning world cross country champion.  His manager, Valentijn Trouw, thought Kamworor would be better-suited to New York's hilly terrain after running a series of flat marathons beginning with Berlin in 2012 where he made his debut.  Kamworor dropped a 4:24 mile for the 21st mile, and only eventual winner Stanley Biwott could handle that pace (Biwott ran 28:33 for the race's final 10 kilometers). "I think the first major marathon I was number two was here in New York," Kamworor continued.  "That one was really special for me, and the course is really nice, somehow the same as where we train in Kenya.  That makes it special; it's a very nice and challenging course." Kamworor skipped the 2016 edition of the race to focus on the Olympic Games 10,000m, but returned in 2017 and won his first-ever marathon.  This time he waited for mile 25 to make his decisive move, running 4:31 and dropping compatriot Wilson Kipsang.  But Kipsang battled back, and nearly caught Kamworor on the race's famous uphill to the finish line in Central Park.  In the end, Kamworor won by three seconds, 2:10:53 to 2:10:56. "I knew that I had made a decisive move and I was focusing on the finish line," said the then 24-year-old Kamworor. "So what was on my mind was that I had to believe in myself that I'm a track runner and I should have enough speed to sprint." In 2018 Kamworor ran his fastest New York City Marathon (2:06:26), but realized his lowest finish.  In the race's final kilometers, he was embroiled in a pitched battle with a pair of feisty Ethiopians, Lelisa Desisa and Shura Kitata.  Heading towards 40K in Central Park, Kamworor led Desisa by a stride, and appeared to be biding his time for a breakaway. But just after two hours into the race, Desisa made a decisive move which Kamworor was unable to match.  He was beaten by both Desisa (2:05:59) and Kitata (2:06:01). But one year later --at the last edition of the race before the pandemic shutdown of road running-- Kamworor would get back on top.  On a chilly day, he ran the 25th mile in 4:31 and won in 2:08:13.  Kitata finished fifth and Desisa, the defending champion, dropped out. "I prepared very well to run this marathon," said Kamworor that day, who was greeted at the finish line by former world record holder Eliud Kipchoge, his primary training partner. "Throughout the last few meters the pace was somewhat high, and it wasn't a problem for me. That's when I decided to pull away." For Sunday Kamworor hopes that his training with Kipchoge, under veteran coach Patrick Sang, will put him in position to win.  He said that he didn't do any special training for New York's hills, but has the strength to win. "New York is somehow similar to cross country," Kamworor said.  "There is some downhill and some uphill coming to Central Park which really makes it a unique race.  He added: "I was getting enough time, training well.  So, it has been good toward this marathon and what's going to happen on Sunday." The last man to win the TCS New York City Marathon three times was American Alberto Salazar, who won in 1980, 1981 and 1982.  Kamworor hopes to become the second by sticking to his regular training program and not doing anything New York-specific. "I normally do a normal program," said Kamworor, who with his wife Joy has five children.  "So, I did that until last week, and then when I traveled here.  No special training, no extra hills." PHOTO: Geoffrey Kamworor at the TCS New York City Marathon pre-race press conference (black and white photo by Jane Monti for Race Results Weekly)

(c) 2024, all rights reserved. Punlished with permission. NEW YORK (31-Oct) -- After finishing a close second to compatriot Hellen Obiri at last April's Boston Marathon, Sharon Lokedi hoped she had done enough to gain selection for the Paris Olympic Marathon.  But when Athletics Kenya announced their team later that month Lokedi had been passed over.  Former world record holder Brigid Kosgei had been given the third spot, joining Obiri and reigning Olympic champion Peres Jepchirchir.  The news hit Lokedi hard. "That day I was just broken," Lokedi told Race Results Weekly in an interview here today.  "Part of me was like, I might make it and I might not.  But then deep down, I had hopes.  After Boston I was like, maybe that was something.  For a couple of weeks I was like, it's tough." Little did she know that Kosgei would withdraw from the team in early July with an injury, and Lokedi would get the call-up as the reserve.  The 30 year-old former NCAA star with the University of Kansas had about six weeks to get ready for the most important marathon of her life. "At the end of the day I just kept training and I just kept hoping," said Lokedi, who represents Under Armour.  She continued: "Finally, like they said that this is happening when Brigid dropped and I got in last minute.  I was like, what am I supposed to do?  It was very short.  I just had to switch it; it's time to get it going.  It was like a month and two weeks of trying to get everything together." Working with her coach Stephen Haas, Lokedi did indeed get it together.  Running in hot and sunny conditions and on one of the toughest-ever Olympic Marathon courses, Lokedi got into the key break in the race just past 28 km and was one of the last five women in medal contention in the 39th kilometer.  But Obiri, Dutchwoman Sifan Hassan, and Ethiopian Tigst Assefa were just too strong and Lokedi was dropped.  She finished fourth, a great performance but just outside of the medals.  Lokedi appreciated her accomplishment, but was emotionally and physically spent. "It took a couple of weeks to get back at it," Lokedi admitted.  "If anything, it was emotionally draining.  It was just excitement; I was just very excited and everything.  I went to Kenya, then I came back here.  There was a little bit going on for, like, three weeks of that.  I was like, I've got to get back to training." Back at home in Flagstaff, Lokedi began her build up for Sunday's TCS New York City Marathon, a race she won in her debut at the 42.195-kilometer distance in 2022.  Under Coach Haas --who is also her agent-- she stuck to the workout program that got her into such great shape before Boston. "We tried to keep the pattern of the long runs very similar," Haas told Race Results Weekly. He continued: "We kept the same pattern of the workouts that we did for Boston and New York.  We just tried to keep the same schedule." Lokedi prepared for Boston in Kenya and, as Haas explained, had to do her long runs on Thursdays because athletes don't run on Sundays which are reserved for attending church and spending time with family.  Haas decided to go with the Kenyan schedule even though Lokedi was preparing for New York in Flagstaff: Tuesday workout, Thursday long run, and Saturday workout. "For this build-up we decided to stay with the same schedule as we did in Kenya," Haas said.  "It actually worked out pretty well in terms of having people to be able to run with.  It's gone really well." For her long runs, Lokedi's only partner was Haas on a bicycle.  He supplied her fluids, nutrition, and encouragement. "Early on it was just conversational, but the goal of the 35-K run is to make it a really hard effort, to make it to a state of fatigue at the end, to practice fueling, have some gels, have the Maurten," Haas said.  "It got pretty hard.  At the end it got motivational." Lokedi said she arrived here confident and fully prepared.  She was visibly excited as she spoke. "You know when you are training and you're like, I can't wait to go get there?" Lokedi said, breaking into a smile.  "You start to get the race chills and like that.  It's exciting." That Lokedi won New York in her marathon debut is noteworthy given the difficulty of the course, the lack of pacemakers, and the all-women's competition format.  While her experience on the course would seem to give her an advantage, Lokedi isn't so sure. "I honestly block out during races," Lokedi said, bursting into laughter.  "Someone was like, you know the course now that you've done it, but not really." Like in Boston and in Paris, Lokedi will be racing against Hellen Obiri, the defending champion and Olympic bronze medalist.  Interestingly, Obiri is only the eighth-fastest woman in the field.  Kenyans Sheila Chepkirui, Vivian Cheruiyot, and Edna Kiplagat; Ethiopians Tirunesh Dibaba, Senbere Teferi, and Dera Dida; and Bahraini Eunice Chumba have all run faster.  Lokedi is only ranked tenth on time, but she is not intimidated. "I love it," she said.  "It's like, you don't know what to expect but you're ready to go at it.  That's what I usually do.  I'm just going to go at it.  It's just another day, another race." PHOTO: Sharon Lokedi at the TCS New York City Marathon Pavilion on Thursday, October 31, 2024 (photo by Jane Monti for Race Results Weekly)