Hellen Obiri at the 2025 Boston Marathon/ FILETwo-time Boston and New York Marathon champion Hellen Obiri is bullish ahead of her title defence at the New York 10km road race today, when she toes the line to square off against fellow Kenyan stars Sharon Lokedi and Agnes Ng’etich in a mouth-watering clash of distance-running royalty.
Obiri returns to the New York 10K race as the defending champion after storming to victory last year in 30:44. American Weini Kelati settled for second place in 30:49, while Ethiopia’s Gotytom Gebreslase completed the podium in 30:54.
The Kenyan veteran revealed that she heads into this year's showdown buoyed by fond memories of New York, where she enjoyed a dream campaign in 2025. “I am looking forward to returning to Central Park after setting a course record at the New York City marathon and winning the Mastercard New York Mini 10K last year,” Obiri told race organisers.
At last year's New York City marathon, Obiri produced a masterclass in endurance running, powering to a course record of 2:19:51 and erasing the long-standing mark of 2:22:31 set by fellow Kenyan Margaret Okayo in 2003.
She also spearheaded a Kenyan podium sweep, outkicking Lokedi (2:20:07) and Sheila Chepkirui (2:20:24) in a thrilling battle through the streets of the Big Apple. Obiri further expressed her excitement at lining up alongside a field of 10,000 women runners.
“I am excited to take on this challenge among a competitive group of women athletes and the 10,000 women who will be inspiring and motivating each other on the course.”
The 35-year-old arrives in New York riding a wave of impressive form after a strong start to her 2026 campaign. She fired an early warning shot to both Lokedi and Ng’etich at the New York Half Marathon, surging to victory in 1:06:33. Lokedi followed home in second place in 1:07:10, while Ng’etich endured a difficult outing and finished 13th in 1:10:25.
Obiri then made her maiden appearance at the London Marathon, producing a personal best of 2:15:53 to finish second behind Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa, who shattered the women’s-only world record after posting 2:15:41.
Her credentials over the 10km distance are equally formidable. Obiri boasts victories in Manchester in 2019 (31:23) and 2022 (30:15), Barcelona in 2020 (30:53), Boston in 2023 (31:21), and Cape Elizabeth in 2023 (31:37).
Meanwhile, Lokedi heads into the race fresh from successfully defending her Boston Marathon crown on April 20, where she crossed the finish line in a course record 2:18:51.
The Kenyan distance star has also proven her pedigree over the 10km race, highlighted by victory at the Boston 10K in 2025 (31:39), alongside runner-up finishes in Charleston (31:53) and Boston (31:57) in 2021. However, while Obiri and Lokedi may have held the upper hand at the New York Half Marathon, Saturday's contest could play directly into Ng’etich’s strengths.
The 25-year-old owns the women’s 10km road world record of 28:46, set in Valencia in 2024. She also holds the women’s-only 10km world record after clocking 29:27 at the 2025 Adidas Adizero Road to Records meeting in Herzogenaurach, Germany.
Ng’etich will draw confidence from a sensational start to her 2026 season. She opened her campaign by capturing her first global title at the World Cross Country Championships in Tallahassee, Florida, stopping the clock at 31:28. Ng’etich led Uganda’s Joy Cheptoyek (32:10) and Ethiopia’s Senayet Getachew (32:13) to secure gold.
She then underlined her dominance on the country circuit by winning the senior women’s 10km race at the Sirikwa Classic Cross Country Tour in 32:28.
Her most recent appearance came on April 4, when she blazed to victory at the Lille 10K, clocking 28:58.
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