Kenya’s Olympic gold medalist Peres Jepchirchir,Silver medalist Abdi Nageeye of Netherlands and Ethiopia's four-time Olympic medalist Kenenisa Bekele will make their debut at the New York City Marathon on Sunday, November 7, 2021.
Nageeye had won the silver medal at the Olympic marathon in Sapporo this year, crossing the line in 2:09:58 behind Kipchoge.
Nageeye stated that he would put the same focus he had at the Olympic games into his preparations for New York, and that his belief and confidence in his abilities is even higher than it was at the Tokyo Olympics.
“There is nothing I want more than to bring a New York City victory back home along with my Olympic medal,” said Nageeye in a statement released by the race organisers on Thursday.
Ethiopia's Bekele who will make his debut in the men’s open division stated that this is his first time competing at the NYC marathon, and he is super excited.
“I am proud of the many accomplishments in my career, but I have never had the opportunity to compete in the New York City Marathon,” Bekele said. I am excited that 2021 will be the year for me to make my attempt in New York.”
Jepchichir on the other hand, whose personal best marathon time is 2:17:16, will be one of the fastest women to compete in the TCS New York City Marathon open division.
The two-time world champion in the half marathon stated that she was elated about the marathon.
“2021 has already been a magical year, and I am excited that it is not yet over, "Jepchirchir said. I am happy about competing in the NYC marathon. The excitement in Kenya around my performance in the Olympic Games has been very high, and I know that a victory in New York will mean so much to the people of Kenya. The 50th year of something is often called its ‘golden anniversary’ so how fitting it will be that for New York City’s 50th running I will run as the Olympic gold medalist.”