Mary Keitany will defend her 2014 New York City Marathon Olympic Marathon Trials in April, Tigist Tufa of Ethiopia announced on Wednesday.
The Kenyan will take on some of the leading marathoners of the year, including reigning Boston Marathon How to Exercise to Prevent Pain as You Age London Marathon in April, Tigist Tufa of Ethiopia. Rotich What to Wear Tool Runners World 2022 Calendar Best Running Shoes.
Other strong contenders include Helah Kiprop of Kenya, who won the silver medal at last month's world championships; Bronx resident Buzunesh Deba of Ethiopia, twice a runner-up at New York City; and Aselefech Mergia of Ethiopia, who won the Dubai Marathon in January.
Since winning New York City last November, Keitany has placed second at London and won the New York Mini 10K in Central Park in June. Last Sunday she won the Great North Run, a half marathon in England, in 1:07:32. Keitany's marathon PR of 2:18:37 makes her the second fastest woman in history, now that much of Russian Liliya Shobukhova's competitive record has been erased for doping.
Keitany will be joined by fellow past New York City winners Priscah Jeptoo of Kenya (2013) and Jelena Prokopcuka of Latvia (2005 and 2006). Jeptoo was the top marathoner in the world in 2013, when she also won London, but has struggled with injuries since. She did not defend her New York City title last year, and withdrew from last Sunday's Great North Run.
There are two interesting debut marathoners in the field: Kenyan Sally Kipyego and American Laura Thweatt. Kipyego, who is based in Oregon, was the 10,000-meter silver medalist at the 2011 world championships and 2012 Olympics. Last month, she finished fifth in the world championships 10,000 in Beijing. Kipyego's longest race to date is a half marathon; she won the 2014 NYC Half Shoes & Gear.
Thweatt, 26, won this year's U.S. cross country championships in February in her hometown of Boulder, Colorado. She has a half marathon personal best of 1:11:02, set in Philadelphia last fall.
The fastest U.S. entrant is teen Alana Hadley, who has a personal best of 2:38:34. The top American marathoners, including Shalane Flanagan and Desiree Linden, Today's Top Stories Olympic Marathon Trials New York Road Runners.
