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A Race Like No Other
The 2022 New York City Marathon - The Women's Race
(photos to be added later when available)
Pre-Race Thoughts on the Women's Field
The New York City Marathon field held the promise of a number of stories, although having covered the event for years, we knew that not every story would play out. Amonght the themes in play were controversy concerning the inability to start of the defending Kenyan champion and favorite, Peres Jepchirchir, who was injured (by her masseuse!) during the lead up to race day. Goytom Gebreslase, the recent and reigning world champion, was thereafter expected to run away with the title - would she? In every marathon, there are runners who were running their first every marathon - would one of these women, particularly Hellen Obiri, the two-time Olympic medalist and seven-time world championships medalist at 5000m, have a breakthrough? And finally, the Americans... Keira D'Amato set the American record - and became the second American ever to break 2:20 - only to lose her record to Emily Sisson in October. Could D'Amato reclaim her record and/or if not, could she use her obvious talents to podium at New York? And, with Jepchirir not starting, the field was predominantly composed of women who had never run the New York City course - how would they handle the unknown? These themes and questions loomed large as the marathon approached.
The Early Race
Perhaps respecting the weather on the warm and humid day, perhaps respecting the somewhat hilly course unknown to most, the women started the race at a conservative, but respectable pace. Perhaps also weighing in the decision to not seek an overly agressive pace was the removal by New York of their traditional time bonuses they had offered in previous years. For 2022, it didn't matter at all how fast you ran (except for a course record bonus) - no matter your pace, the reward would be solely based on finish place.
Through the first 25K, the women set off on an even pace of approximately 17:10 per 5K split (splits at: 17:18/17:09/16:59/17?08/17:15) or a 5:29/mile (+/- 10 seconds) pace - all on track for a mid-2:24 finish, well inside any of the personal bests for the top women. With the conservative pace, the pack remained at 8 women through 25K - all of the favorites plus a couple of more. Only after the women reached 25K did the race begin in earnest.
The Surprises of the Race
If one were to compare the runners in the pack of 8 at 25K to the list of runners and their personal bests, the two would look very similar. A few runners we would have expected to be in contention for longer were missing: Mao Uesugi of Japan and Keira D'Amaato had both run fast marathons earlier in 2022, but this was not to be their day. On the other hand, American Aliphine Tuliamuk with a personal best of 2:26:50 was staying strong.
The Field Breaks Apart
Following 25K, Gotyom Gebreslase started to push the pace and the lead pack consolidated into a field of four: the two women with the two fastest previous bests: Gotytom Gebreslase and Lonah Chemtai Salpeter, and two debutantes at the marathon distance: Hellen Obiri, as expected, and Sharon Lokedi, a 10-time All American at Kansas whose achievements included wininng the 10,000-meter NCAA title in 2018. These four would push forward with Obiri, the 5000m expert, falling off the pace and leaving the day to be a race between the two women with the fastest previous marathons and the newcomer.
Sharon Lokedi Debuts to the win
Despite the odds that say a first-time marathoner will make mistakes and is unlikely to win a major marathon, Sharon Lokedi proved everyone wrong. In the final mile through and around Centraal Park, Lokedi looked the freshest and easily ran through to win in 2:23:23 - the first time ever that a debutante marathoner has won the New York City Marathon. Behind, Lonah Chemtai Salpeter - as noted, the fastest woman in the field - held on strong to finish runner-up in 2:23:30 - becoming the first Israeli to podium at the New York City Marathon. Gotytom Gebreeslase took third in 2:23:39.
Behind the Podium Finishers
Following the top three, most amazing was that 42-year old Edna Kiplagat continues to run strong and extending a successful marathoning career that included a win thireen years earlier at the 2010 New York City Marathon (among many other achievements). The promising marathon debutante Hellen Obiri slowed in the final miles, but finished with a respectable 2:25:45 time - we will expect to see her back and improving on that promising marathon start. And American Aliphine Tuliamuk was one of the few to set a strong personal best on a tough day as she finished in seventh place in 2:26:18.
Top Finishers
1. Sharon Lokedi (KEN) 2:23:23 - $100,000
2. Lonah Chemtai Salpeter (ISR) 2:23:30 - $60,000
3. Gotytom Gebreslase (ETH) 2:23:39 - $40,000
4. Edna Kiplagat (KEN) 2:24:16 - $25,000 + $3,000
5. Viola Cheptoo (KEN) 2:25:34 - $15,000
6. Hellen Obiri (KEN) 2:25:49 - $10,000
7. Aliphine Tuliamuk (USA) 2:26:18 - $7,500 + $25,000
8. Emma Bates (USA) 2:26:53 - $5,000 + $15,000
9. Jessica Stenson (AUS) 2:27:27 - $2,500
10. Nell Rojas (USA) 2:28:32 - $2,000 + $10,000
11. Lindsay Flanagan (USA) 2:29:28 - $5,000
12. Gerda Steyn (RSA) 2:30:22
13. Stephanie Bruce (USA) 2:30:34 - $3,000
14. Caroline Rotich (KEN) 2:30:59
15. Keira D'Amato (USA) 2:31:31
16. Desiree Linden (USA) 2:32:37
17. Mao Uesugi (JPN) 2:32:56
18. Eloise Wellings (AUS) 2:34:50
19. Sarah Pagano (USA) 2:35:03
20. Grace Kahura (KEN) 2:35:32
21. Annie Frisbie (USA) 2:35:35
22. Molly Grabill (USA) 2:39:45
23. Kayla Lampe (USA) 2:40:22
24. Maegan Krifchin (USA) 2:40:52
25. Roberta Groner (USA) 2:43:06 - $2,000
Coverage Homepage
Post Race:
Men's Post-Race |
Women's Post-Race
| Complete Searchable Results
Pre-Race:
Men:
Men's Preview & Starter List
Women:
Women's Preview & Starter List
Extras:
Pace Calculator/Pace Guide/Viewing Locations
More News:
Press Releases |
News (other sources)
Featured Book/Movie:
Run For Your Life |
A Race Like No Other
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