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A Race Like No Other
The 50th Running of the New York City Marathon - As It Happens
On this page: Men's Race | Women's Race
We're on-site at the New York City Marathon and will be commenting on the race - as it happens. If you haven't yet, follow the links above to review the starter lists - so you know who the players are. Then, return to this page and refresh often. We'll have photos and post-race writeups after the race is over.
Note, as you read these reports, they will appear in reverse chronological order.
Newest updates will be at the top of each section. Men's Race | Women's Race
Overview
The weather for the 2021 marathon looks perfect. The temperatures will be in the low 40s for the start, rising just to the low 50s for the finish. With some clouds, there should be no chance the runners will overheat and it should be a fast day. The wind is set to be 5 mph from the WNW. With 95% of the course run on a north-south axis, that will have no effect on the runners. The other 5% of the course will be run into the wind, but wind won't be a factor.
Men's Race back to top
The Finish (2:08:22). Albert Korir wins the 50th running of the New York City Marathon in 2:08:22 - a bit faster than, and a great followup to, his runner-rup finish of 2019. Mohamed El Aaraby finishes in second place in a new personal best of 2:09:06. Eyob Faniel takes third place in 2:09:52. Elkanah Kibet is fourth and first American in a personal best marathon time of 2:11:15.
35K (1:45:47), Mile 22 (1:47:00). Albert Korir is extending his lead - the race should be his. Mohamed El Aaraby continues to run strong and has moved into second place and looks fairly certain to finish on the podium in a new personal best time.
Mile 21 (1:42:08). Albert Korir is holding his lead.
Mile 19 (1:32:30), Mile 20 (1:37:19). Albert Korir is now running away - he looks strong and confident. Kibiwott Kandie is six seconds behind, El Aaraby is a further six seconds behind Kandie and Faniel is a few seconds further back. These four should hold on to keep the top four spots, but we will see if the order changes over the final 10K. Other runners are 1:16 back and presumably out of any contention.
30K (1:30:50). Korir and Kandie have caught and passed the leaders. Faniel has left El Aaraby and is running up with the two new leaders, although, El Aaraby is doing his best to also hang on... Other men are now nearly a minute behind the four in the front.
Mile 18 (1:27:43). El Aaraby and Faniel continue to lead, but the lead is down to just a few seconds. Kibiwott Kandie and Albert Korir are working together and catching the leaders.
Mile 14 (1:08:13), Mile 15 (1:13:10), 25K (1:15:55). El Aaraby and Faniel are nearly over the 59th St. bridge and maintain a 42 second lead on three men: Kibiwott Kandie, Albert Korir and Elkaneh Kibet. Kenenisa Bekele - the fastest man in the field and Abdi Nageeye, the Olympic silver medalist, are falling behind.
Mile 10 (48;51), 20K (1:00:33), Halfway (1:10:57). El Aaraby and Faniel have now extended their lead to 1:09 ahead of the seven following runners. This may be one of the years where the bulk of the runners are focused on the presumptive winner - in this case, Kenenisa Bekele. If the runners continue to watch Bekele and let the others run away - El Aaraby (2:09:16 PB) and Faniel (2:07:19 PB) could sneak away with a win or spots on the podium.
Mile 8 (39:21), 15K (45:39). El Aaraby and Faniel are working together and swapping leads as they are building a lead on the main pack. These two are continually looking behind, obviously surprised the rest have let them run away. But the race is early, so this may or may not amount to anything. Nine men, including the presumptive favorite Kenenisa Bekele are now 20 seconds behind.
10K (30:43). Mile 7 (34:33). The pack is beginning to separate into three mini-packs. El Aaraby is leading and setting the pace with Eyob Faniel staying with him. A few seconds behind, eight men are together led by Kenenisa Bekele. In this group is also Albert Korir and one American, Elkanah Kibet. Ben True, in his debut marathon, is behind in the third group.
Mile 4 (19:54), Mile 5 (24:46). Fourteen men running together. Mohamed El Aaraby of Morocco is setting the pace with Kenenisa Bekele alongside as the men are running on pace for about a 2:10 marathon - they will pick up this pace later...
Mile 3 (14:53), 5K (15:26). Thijs Nijhuuis of Denmark is earning some TV exposure as he ran ahead of the field for the first 5K - that won't last. The main pack - 21 men - is 8 seconds behind running a conservative race.
The men have started. 20 men started moments ahead of the remaining field and are now on their 26.2 mile journey through New York City.
The men's race will begin at 9:05AM. We'll have more when the race begins.
Women's Race back to top
The Finish (2:22:39). Peres Chepchirchir is the first to make her move turning into the park with approximately 600 meters to go. Viola Cheptoo chases, but can not keep up and Chepchirchir is the champion in the third fastest time ever for the New York City Marathon. Cheptoo takes the runner-up spot in 2:22:44 and Yeshaneh takes third post in 2:22:52. Molly Seidel finishes in fourth place in 2:24:42 and as first American with the fastest time ever run by an American at the New York City Marathon.
40K (2:15:41), Mile 25 (2:15:41). The three women look perfectly matched and none is choosing to make their move yet - this will come down to the final spring up the hill to the finish. It may be a stereotype, but we see the two Kenyans in the front and the Ethiopian lingering and watching, just behind - each woman seems to be running the strategy we would expect.
Mile 24 (2:11:10). With two miles and a few hills remaining, Jepchirchir, Cheptoo and Yeshaneh seem perfectly matched.
Mile 22 (2:00:25), Mile 23 (2:05:41). The three leading women are running side by side as they run up 5th Avenue toward Central Park.
35K (1:59:02). The race remains among three: Jepchirchir, Cheptoo and Yeshaneh. All look strong. Molly Seidel has moved into fourth place, 43 seconds behind. 16 seconds behind Seidel is Ruti Aga and thirteen seconds behind Aga are Kellyn Taylor and Helalia Johannes.
Mile 20 (1:49:49). Amazing - Viola Cheptoo has run up to catch Jepchirchir and Yeshaneh and looks strong. What appeared a two-woman race is now between three.
30K (1:42:43), Mile 19 (). Peres Jepchirchir and Ababel Yeshaneh are running away from the others. It seems already certain - based on the way these two are running - that they will be champion and runner-up. Ruti Aga is running alone in third place and Molly Seidel is far behind, something is wrong...
Mile 16 (1:28:38), Mile 17 (1:34:04), Mile 18 (1:39:17). Mile 18, at 5:13 is the fastest mile so far in the race and set by Jepchirchir. The lead women are now down to just four as Peres Jepchirchir is opening up the pace. It is typical that the pace increases as the runners move up First Avenue and we are seeing that today. The four women now in competition: Peres Jepchirchir, Ruti Aga, Molly Seidel and Ababel Yeshaneh.
Mile 15 (1:23), 25K (1:26:11). Nine women are together as they ascend and crest the largest hill on the course - the Queensborough (aka 59th St.) Bridge. Peres Chepchirchir moves to the front for a moment to test her competition before moving back into the field.
Halfway (1:12:43). Mile 14 (1:17:29). Annie Frisbie continues to lead and set the pace - but we note that this is her debut marathon and her past times suggest that MAYBE she can hold this pace, but probably not... Frisbie most recently finished fifth at the USA 10M Championships (at Cherry Blossom 10-Mile Run) in 0:52:56. We believe that suggests an ability to run a 2:28 marathon... The field is down to 9 athletes including Peres Jepchirchir, Molly Seidel, Ruti Aga, Kellyn Taylor and Laura Thweatt. Sally Kipyego and Stephanie Bruce have fallen behind.
Mile 11 (1:01:14), 20K (1:08:59). Eleven women continue together with the pace continuing to increase. Annie Frisbie continues to set the pace, but Peres Jepchirchir sits just behind. Jepchirchir looks eager to increase the pace but also seems unsure of the course and is biding here time. Five Americans remain in the lead group.
Mile 8 (44:50), Mile 9 (50:20), 15K (52:04). Twelve women continue to run together on a pace toward a 2:26 finish. This pace is undoubtedly a bit fast for a few of these runners but the field remains together on a perfect day for a marathon.
Mile 7 (39:23). The field has not changed as the women continue on a conservative pace.
10K (35:02). Twelve women running together, Annie Frisbie nominally in the lead. Jepchirchir and Taylor are running immediately behind with Molly Seidel on the side.
Kellyn Taylor continues to set the pace with others following. Peres Jepchirchir, the Olympic champion, seems calm running in the center of the lead - of all the runners, although too early to make any predictions, Jepchirchir looks the smoothest.
5K (17:59). 18 women together at the 5K mark, including 8 Americans and all of the favorites.
Mile 2 (11:42). Still 20 women - Stephanie Bruce, Kellyn Taylor and Molly Seidel running together in the front.
Mile 1 (6:06). The women are starting at an easy pace. New for 2021 is that the NYRR have removed all time bonus money from the prize purse so there will be no incentive to run quickly - this will be just a strategic race.
The women have started. A pack of about 20 women, led by Molly Seidel and Kelly Taylor are ascending the Verrazano Narrows Bridge to start the race.
The women's race will begin at 8:40AM. Stay tuned here for updates as soon as the race begins.
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
Head-to-Heads: Elite Athlete Past Matchups
Extras:
Pace Calculator/Pace Guide/Viewing |
Videos (Athletes/Archival/More...)
More News:
Press Releases |
News (other sources)
Featured Book/Movie:
Run For Your Life |
A Race Like No Other
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