Photo by Muhammad Shumail
Catch me if you can! Kenya’s Abel Kipchumba, 30, was crowned the champion of the world’s premier NYC Half Marathon, breaking the tap at 1:00:25 to clinch the first spot in a nail-biting contest this past Sunday.
Morocco’s Zouhair Talbi, 28, managed to lock in 2nd place, clocking in at 1:00:41, finishing just 16 seconds behind the winner as EritreanEthiopian Yemane Haileselassie took third place, timing at 1:01:37 in the men’s open division.
“I must go; I must win,” said Kipchumba, who hit the home run in his debut at the United Airlines NYC Half Marathon.
The United Airlines New York Road Runners Half Marathon has drawn an array of the world’s ranking athletes this year, including 10 Olympians, six Paralympians, and several more professional athletes preparing to make their mark at the 2024 Paris Olympics this summer.
Norway’s Karoline Bjerkeli Grovdal, the first European to win this race since 2010, fought off the Kenyan duo Gladys Chepkurui and Edna Kiplagat to cross the finish line in 1:09:09, with the other two finishing just 18 and 47 seconds behind the leader, respectively.
“I have been third place three times before,” She said. “It was just fantastic to cross the finish line first.” She was lagging a few places when she reminded herself to never give up, eventually grabbing the title for the women’s open division.
The NYC Half marathon runners got the chance to pace along with inspiring people and celebrities alike, with Lil Nas X, aka Montero, making a surprise appearance at the finish line. YouTube phenomenon Casey Neistat popped up at the crossing line who put his runners’ shoes back on after his last run in 2009. Mexican-American Jacob Hoyos ran in support of mental and physical health in the Latinx community.
Women’s wheelchair defending champion Susannah Scaroni got off to a roaring start before crossing the finish line in 53:50 minutes, with Netherland’s Geert…
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