Defending champions Abel Kipchumba, Karoline Bjerkeli Grøvdal, Geert Schipper, and Susannah Scaroni to return
Olympian and newly minted American half marathon record holder Conner Mantz, Olympians Moh Ahmed, Hillary Bor, and Woody Kincaid, and Paralympian and 2024 TCS New York City Marathon champion Daniel Romanchuk to lead men’s fields
Paris 2024 Olympic marathoners Sharon Lokedi, Fiona O’Keeffe, Dakotah Popehn, and Emily Sisson to battle in women’s open division
New York, February 18, 2025 – Nonprofit New York Road Runners (NYRR) has announced a world-class professional athlete field representing 14 countries for the 2025 United Airlines NYC Half, taking place Sunday, March 16, featuring all four defending champions, 30 Olympians and Paralympians, and multiple national record holders.
For nearly two decades, the United Airlines NYC Half, one of 60 annual adult and youth races New York Road Runners produces, has been the world’s premier half marathon, attracting athletes from around the world for a tour of Brooklyn and Manhattan. The 2024 edition of the race set an event record with 27,843 finishers.
The four defending champions in the men’s and women’s open and wheelchair divisions—Abel Kipchumba of Kenya and Karoline Bjerkeli Grøvdal of Norway, and Geert Schipper of the Netherlands and Susannah Scaroni of the United States—will return and look to extend their success.
Conner Mantz, who rewrote the history books last month by breaking an 18-year-old American record by running 59:17 in the Houston Half Marathon, will lead a strong American group, which also includes two-time Olympians Hillary Bor and Woody Kincaid.
Bjerkeli Grøvdal will face stiff competition in the women’s open field from 2022 TCS New York City Marathon champion and Olympian Sharon Lokedi, as well as U.S. Olympians Des Linden, Fiona O’Keeffe, Dakotah Popehn, and Emily Sisson.
The wheelchair division will feature familiar faces who have fared well in New York, including former United Airlines NYC Half and TCS New York City Marathon champions Manuela Schär and Tatyana McFadden, and defending TCS New York City Marathon champion Daniel Romanchuk.
More than 27,000 athletes of all ages and abilities will follow in the path of the professional athletes, with an iconic new course that starts near the Brooklyn Museum, goes over the Brooklyn Bridge—the first time an NYRR race has ever done so—into Manhattan, up the FDR, continues through Times Square—one of only two times a year it is closed to traffic—and finishes in Central Park.
Men’s Open Division
Kenya’s Kipchumba, who won the 2024 United Airlines NYC Half during his first-ever trip to New York City, will look to capture the magic again. His personal best of 58:07 is the fastest in the field and makes him the 10th-fastest half marathoner in history.
Challenging him will be Mantz, fresh off his half-marathon American record and looking to improve his result after placing just off the podium in fourth at the 2022 United Airlines NYC Half. Mantz had a banner year in 2024, winning the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials and qualifying for the Paris 2024 Olympics, where he was the top American finisher and placed eighth.
“I was fortunate to kick off my 2025 season with an American record in the half-marathon,” Mantz said. “Racing the United Airlines NYC Half will help me to continue that momentum during an important year of racing. Every time I race in New York, the crowds and camaraderie are unmatched, so I’m excited to have another opportunity to compete against some of the fastest and strongest athletes in the world.”
Mantz will be joined by fellow Americans Hillary Bor, a two-time Olympian and seven-time national champion who finished fourth at last year’s United Airlines NYC Half—his half-marathon debut—Woody Kincaid, a two-time Olympian who will be making his debut at the distance, and Reed Fischer, who has placed in the top 10 at the last three editions of the race.
The internationally diverse field will feature a pair of Canadian Olympians and Canadian record holders, Moh Ahmed and Ben Flanagan. Ahmed is a four-time Olympian who became the first Canadian to medal in the 5,000 meters at the World Championships and the Olympics. He will be making his highly anticipated half-marathon debut. Flanagan, the Canadian record holder in the 5K and 10K road races, represented Canada at the Paris 2024 Olympics for the first time.
Women’s Open Division
After finishing third in the United Airlines NYC Half in 2018, 2022, and 2023, Norway’s Bjerkeli Grøvdal reached the top of the podium at last year’s race, becoming the first woman from Norway to win. She then won gold at the 2024 European Championships’ half marathon and represented Norway at the Paris 2024 Olympics, placing eighth in the 5,000 meters.
“Winning the 2024 United Airlines NYC Half was a dream come true and set the tone for the rest of my season,” Bjerkeli Grøvdal said. “This race is extremely special to me and to have the opportunity to defend my title is an incredible honor.”
Additional contenders include the three members of the 2024 U.S. Olympic Women’s Marathon team—American marathon record holder Sisson, top American finisher at the Paris 2024 Olympic Marathon Popehn, and U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials champion O’Keeffe. Two-time Olympian and 2018 Boston Marathon champion Linden will return, in addition to Sara Vaughn, who was the top American at the 2024 TCS New York City Marathon, finishing sixth. The deep American contingent is rounded out by Susanna Sullivan, the 10th-fastest American women’s marathoner in history and a full-time teacher, and Sara Hall, who recently broke the American masters record for the marathon in 2:23:45.
Also racing through Times Square—the Crossroads of the World—will be Kenya’s Lokedi, the 2022 TCS New York City Marathon champion and 2024 Boston Marathon runner-up who was fourth at the Paris 2024 Olympic Marathon.
Other international stars include Israel’s Lonah Chemtai Salpeter, a World Championships medalist who has been on the podium at multiple Abbott World Marathon Majors, British Olympians Calli Hauger-Thackery and Rose Harvey, and Swiss Olympian Fabienne Schlumpf, who finished in the top 10 at the 2024 United Airlines NYC Half and fifth at the 2024 TCS New York City Marathon.
The United Airlines NYC Half women’s open and wheelchair division professional athlete fields are presented by Mastercard.
Men’s Wheelchair Division
In his New York Road Runners racing debut last year, the Netherlands’ Schipper captured the United Airlines NYC Half title. He is a three-time Paralympian and won the 2023 Cape Town Marathon and 2024 Paris Marathon. In addition to Schipper, the rest of the 2024 United Airlines NYC Half podium will return with the U.S.’s Evan Correll, a two-time NCAA champion in the 100 meters, and Great Britain’s Johnboy Smith, a Commonwealth Games gold medalist and Paralympian.
The trio will be challenged by Romanchuk, the defending TCS New York City Marathon champion who made history alongside Scaroni as the first American duo to sweep the wheelchair division. At the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, he won two medals—gold in the 5,000 meters and bronze in the 400 meters.
Women’s Wheelchair Division
No stranger to New York, defending United Airlines NYC Half and TCS New York City Marathon champion Scaroni will hunt for her third consecutive title. At her fourth Paralympics in Paris, she won four medals, including a bronze in the marathon.
“I’ve had great success in New York and going for a three-peat is an exciting new challenge,” Scaroni said. “Last year was particularly special for me with a double victory in the city, so I’m thrilled to be back and pushing myself against a stellar group of women.”
Former United Airlines NYC Half and TCS New York City Marathon champions Schär and McFadden will line up as well. The trio led the podium at the 2024 TCS New York City Marathon, with McFadden claiming silver and Schär taking bronze. With 22 Paralympic medals to her name, McFadden is the most decorated American track and field athlete of all time. Switzerland’s Schär is a three-time TCS New York City Marathon champion with 10 Paralympic medals.
In addition to the adult race, 1,500 kids will participate in free dashes and races as part of the Times Square Kids Run, one of more than 20 free Rising New York Road Runners youth events the nonprofit hosts during the year—including the Kids Kickoff leading into the TCS New York City Marathon—to build healthier lives and stronger communities through the transformative power of running.
The United Airlines NYC Half will be covered locally in the tri-state area by ABC New York, Channel 7 with live news cut-ins between 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Additionally, the four professional fields will be covered by a livestream, available on ESPN+, abc7ny.com, and NYRR’s digital channels beginning at 7:00 a.m. ET.
Professional Athlete Field – Men’s Open Division
|
Name |
Country |
Residence |
Personal Best |
|
Abel Kipchumba |
KEN |
Iten, KEN |
58:07 (Valencia, 2021) |
|
Conner Mantz |
USA |
Provo, Utah |
59:17 NR (Houston, 2025) |
|
Richard Etir |
KEN |
Tokyo |
59:32 (Marugame, JPN, 2024) |
|
Patrick Dever |
GBR |
Raleigh, N.C. |
1:00:11 (Houston, 2025) |
|
Hillary Bor |
USA |
Colorado Springs, Colo. |
1:00:20 (Houston, 2025) |
|
Yudai Kiyama |
JPN |
Tokyo |
1:00:32 (Marugame, JPN, 2025) |
|
Wesley Kiptoo |
KEN |
Flagstaff, Ariz. |
1:00:34 (Houston, 2025) |
|
Biya Simbassa |
USA |
Flagstaff, Ariz. |
1:00:37 (Valencia, 2023) |
|
Reed Fischer |
USA |
Boulder, Colo. |
1:00:54 (Houston, 2025) |
|
Ben Flanagan |
CAN |
Bourne, Mass. |
1:01:00 (Valencia, 2022) |
|
Alex Masai |
KEN |
Flagstaff, Ariz. |
1:01:04 (Houston, 2025) |
|
Jack Rowe |
GBR |
Raleigh, N.C. |
1:01:08 (Greenwich, GBR, 2023) |
|
Yemane Haileselassie |
ERI |
Flagstaff, Ariz. |
1:01:34 (Houston, 2024) |
|
Hibiki Murakami |
JPN |
Tokyo |
1:01:46 (Marugame, JPN, 2025) |
|
Jose Mauricio Gonzalez |
COL |
Bogota, COL |
1:02:16 (Barcelona, 2021) |
|
Tristan Woodfine |
CAN |
Ontario |
1:02:40 (Boston, 2023) |
|
Andrew Davies |
CAN |
West Point Grey, CAN |
1:03:05 (Vancouver, 2025) |
|
Charlie Sweeney |
USA |
Boulder, Colo. |
1:03:31 (Indianapolis, 2023) |
|
Connor Winter |
USA |
Boulder, Colo. |
1:03:31 (Indianapolis, 2023) |
|
Liam Dee |
GBR |
Brooklyn, N.Y. |
1:03:43 (Valencia, 2024) |
|
Nick Hauger |
USA |
Flagstaff, Ariz. |
1:03:48 (South Shields, GBR, 2024) |
|
Tim McGowan |
USA |
Boston |
1:03:54 (Philadelphia, 2023) |
|
Rui Yong Soh |
SGP |
London |
1:06:45 NR (Valencia, 2023) |
|
Jordan Daniel |
USA |
Westhampton, N.Y. |
1:06:48 (Valley Cottage, N.Y., 2023) |
|
Mohammed Ahmed |
CAN |
Portland, Oreg. |
Debut |
|
Luke Combs |
USA |
Colorado Springs, Colo. |
Debut |
|
Colin Daly |
USA |
New York |
Debut |
|
Woody Kincaid |
USA |
Flagstaff, Ariz. |
Debut |
NR = National Record
Professional Athlete Field – Women’s Open Division
|
Name |
Country |
Residence |
Personal Best |
|
Lonah Chemtai Salpeter |
ISR |
Tel Aviv, ISR |
1:06:09 (Prague, 2019) |
|
Emily Sisson |
USA |
Phoenix |
1:06:52 (Houston, 2024) |
|
Karoline Bjerkeli Grøvdal |
NOR |
Oslo, NOR |
1:06:55 (Copenhagen, 2024) |
|
Calli Hauger-Thackery |
GBR |
Flagstaff, Ariz. |
1:06:58 (Marugame, JPN, 2025) |
|
Sara Hall |
USA |
Flagstaff, Ariz. |
1:07:15 (Houston, 2022) |
|
Sharon Lokedi |
KEN |
Flagstaff, Ariz. |
1:07:42 (South Shields, GBR, 2023) |
|
Fiona O’Keeffe |
USA |
Durham, N.C. |
1:07:42 (Houston, 2022) |
|
Dakotah Popehn |
USA |
Burnsville, Minn. |
1:08:04 (Duluth, Minn., 2024) |
|
Sarah Lahti |
SWE |
Klippan, SWE |
1:08:19 NR (Valencia, 2021) |
|
Fabienne Schlumpf |
SUI |
Wetzikon, SUI |
1:08:27 NR (Dresden, GER, 2021) |
|
Emily Venters |
USA |
Salt Lake City |
1:08:48 (Houston, 2025) |
|
Lauren Gregory |
USA |
Phoenix |
1:09:12 (Mesa, Ariz., 2025) |
|
Lindsay Flanagan |
USA |
Louisville, Colo. |
1:09:17 (Houston, 2025) |
|
Allie Kieffer |
USA |
Austin, Texas |
1:09:17 (Ostia, ITA, 2022) |
|
Diane Van Es |
NED |
Rotterdam, NED |
1:09:31 (Barcelona, 2024) |
|
Susanna Sullivan |
USA |
Reston, Va. |
1:09:42 (Philadelphia, 2024) |
|
Emma Bates |
USA |
Boulder, Colo. |
1:09:44 (Shelby Twp, Mich., 2020) |
|
Kim Conley |
USA |
Flagstaff, Ariz. |
1:09:44 (Houston, 2015) |
|
Stephanie Bruce |
USA |
Flagstaff, Ariz. |
1:09:55 (Valley, N.E., 2021) |
|
Rose Harvey |
GBR |
Raleigh, N.C. |
1:10:02 (London, 2023) |
|
Kellyn Taylor |
USA |
Flagstaff, Ariz. |
1:10:16 (Las Vegas, 2018) |
|
Desiree Linden |
USA |
Charlevoix, Mich. |
1:10:34 (Naples, 2011) |
|
Amy-Eloise Neale |
GBR |
Manchester, GBR |
1:11:12 (South Shields, GBR, 2022) |
|
Kaylee Flanagan |
USA |
Louisville, Colo. |
1:12:53 (Ashland, Tenn., 2022) |
|
Sara Vaughn |
USA |
Boulder, Colo. |
1:12:56 (NYC Half, 2022) |
|
Kathryn Fluehr |
USA |
Boulder, Colo. |
1:14:01 (Indianapolis, 2018) |
|
Alexandra Conway |
USA |
New York |
1:15:05 (Valley Cottage, N.Y., 2023) |
|
Alana Levy |
USA |
New York |
1:15:46 (RBC Brooklyn, 2024) |
|
Gabrielle Yatauro |
USA |
New York |
1:15:59 (RBC Brooklyn, 2022) |
|
Brooke Starn |
USA |
New York |
1:16:00 (RBC Brooklyn, 2024) |
|
Stephanie Diacovo |
USA |
New York |
1:18:27 (NYC Half, 2024) |
|
Jennifer Donnelly |
USA |
New York |
1:18:47 (Virtual RBC Brooklyn Half, 2020) |
NR = National Record
Professional Athlete Field – Men’s Wheelchair Division
|
Name |
Country |
Residence |
Personal Best |
|
Johnboy Smith |
GBR |
West Kingsdown, GBR |
43:34 (Great North Run, 2019) |
|
Daniel Romanchuk |
USA |
Champaign, Ill. |
43:54 (Chicago, 2023) |
|
Evan Correll |
USA |
Champaign, Ill. |
44:30 (Chicago, 2023) |
|
Jason Robinson |
USA |
Champaign, Ill. |
47:58 (Chicago, 2023) |
|
Brian Siemann |
USA |
Champaign, Ill. |
47:58 (Chicago, 2023) |
|
Hermin Garic |
USA. |
Utica, N.Y. |
48:15 (Philadelphia, 2023) |
|
Geert Schipper |
NED |
Spanbroek, NED |
48:43 (NYC Half, 2024) |
|
Phillip Croft |
USA |
Champaign, Ill. |
1:02 (NYC Half, 2022) |
|
Jeffrey Files |
USA |
Tucson, Ariz. |
Debut |
Professional Athlete Field – Women’s Wheelchair Division
|
Name |
Country |
Residence |
Personal Best |
|
Susannah Scaroni |
USA |
Champaign, Ill. |
46:07 (Chicago, 2022) |
|
Hannah Dederick |
USA |
Champaign, Ill. |
52:22 (Chicago, 2022) |
|
Tatyana McFadden |
USA |
Baltimore, Md. |
52:25 (NYC Half, 2016) |
|
Manuela Schär |
SUI |
Kriens, SUI |
53:10 (NYC Half, 2016) |
|
Linden Williamson |
USA |
Boerne, Texas |
58:03 (Orlando, 2024) |
|
Heather Sealover |
USA |
Cheney, Wash. |
59:12 (Orlando, 2024) |
|
Michelle Wheeler |
USA |
Vincentown, N.J. |
1:00 (Philadelphia, 2022) |
|
Hoda Elshorbagy |
EGY |
Champaign, Ill. |
1:00 (Illinois Half, 2023) |
About New York Road Runners (NYRR)
A New York City-based nonprofit, New York Road Runners’ vision is to build healthier lives and stronger communities through the transformative power of running – serving nearly a half a million New Yorkers annually through its races, free community events, youth running initiatives, and school-based programs across the five boroughs. During its nearly 70 years, New York Road Runners has grown from a local running club to the world’s premier community running organization, producing more than 60 adult and youth races each year, including the TCS New York City Marathon. Held the first Sunday each November, the TCS New York City Marathon features more than 50,000 runners—from the world’s best professional athletes to a vast range of runners across experience levels, ages, genders, abilities, and backgrounds. To learn more, visit www.nyrr.org.
