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Photo Credit: Victah Sailer / PhotoRun 2011 Champion Firehiwot Dado Returns

With more elite male marathoners running the circuit, we’re often more excited about the men’s race than the women’s race at many of the world marathons. But for the 2013 New York City Marathon, we think the depth and competition in the women’s field exceeds that for the men’s field.

The 2013 New York City Marathon brings together a dozen women who have run sub-2:25, and in reality, any of those women could compete for the win at the race. The field boasts the winners of the 2010 and 2011 New York City Marathons (as well as the 1998, 2005 & 2006 races); the top two from the 2013 World Championships Marathon; the silver medalist from the 2012 Olympic Marathon; and the top two finishers from the 2013 London Marathon….

As with the men’s race, the 2012-2013 World Marathon Majors series $500K bonus will be decided at the New York City Marathon, but the point spread of the two leaders – Edna Kiplagat (55pts) and Priscah Jeptoo (50pts) – in the women’s race is only 5 points. The tie-breaker rules will give the edge to Jeptoo if she can finish even one spot ahead of Kiplagat, so we’ll watch for a race-within-the-race between these two who will make more money by ignoring the main race and watching their competitor.

As the women with the two fastest personal best times, the aforementioned Kiplagat and Jeptoo stand to be the favorites in the race. And their recent racing history backs that up: Kiplagat is the reigning two-time winner of the World championships Marathon (2011 & 2013) and the 2010 winner of the New York City Marathon; Jeptoo took the Silver Medal at the 2012 Olympics Marathon and was the winner of the 2013 London Marathon, ahead of Kiplagat. These two women, in particular, are tough and with the bonus on the line will be watching each other.

In addition to these two competitors, the two top finishers of the 2011 New York City Marathon return to try to repeat their success of that year. In 2011, Mary Keitany ran away from the pack – and although she ultimately faded, her fast start encouraged Firehiwot Dado and Bizunesh Deba to run the fastest times run by women in New York since Paula Radcliffe’s victory in 2007. The 2:23:15 by Dado and 2:23:19 by Deba stand as the sixth and seventh fastest times ever on the course and show that they have the speed and ability to run well at New York. Deba is also boosted by the fact that New York is her home and she will have a great cheering squad and encouragement along the course.

In a marathon, anything can happen, but a number of other women stand out as wildcards for a win or top three finish. Valeria Straneo finished as runner-up at the 2013 World Championships Marathon and has been running well and her 2:23:44 personal best is competitive. Tetyana Gamera-Shmyrko of the Ukraine ran to a credible fifth place finish at the 2012 Olympics (2:24:32) and followed that up with a 2:23:58 personal best earlier in 2013 to win the Osaka Marathon. Kim Smith – never quite seeming to reach her potential in the marathon – continues to run well in the USA and was fifth at the last two editions of the New York City Marathon and could possibly see a breakthrough.

American fans were looking forward to seeing Kara Goucher run the New York City Marathon, but she withdrew from the field in September due to a foot injury. Taking up the American mantle are three women with the best chance for a top five finish: Amy Hastings whose 2:27:03 PR stands her as fastest of the Americans; Adriana Nelson (nee Pirtea) who was nipped at the finish line to be runner-up at the 2007 Chicago Marathon and more recently won the USA Half Marathon championships; and Janet Bawcom (nee Cherobon) who was fifth at the 2012 Olympic Trials Marathon has won ten National Championships at shorter distances and was a 2012 Olympian at the 10,000M distance.

In all – watch for a strategic and competitive race. And especially watch the competition between Edna Kiplagat and Priscah Jeptoo – the two fastest in the field also know their real race, for $500K, is between each other.

Female Elite Athletes
Athlete	Country	Bib	Personal Best	NYC
Firehiwot Dado (29)	ETH	101	2:23:15, New York City, 2011	History
Edna Kiplagat (34)	KEN	102	2:19:50, London, 2012	History
Priscah Jeptoo (29)	KEN	103	2:20:14, London, 2012	History
Buzunesh Deba (26)	ETH	104	2:23:19, New York City, 2011	History
Valeria Straneo (37)	ITA	105	2:23:44, Rotterdam, 2012	History
Christelle Daunay (38)	FRA	106	2:24:22, Paris, 2010	History
Jelena Prokopcuka (37)	LVA	107	2:22:56, Osaka, 2005	History
Risa Shigetomo (26)	JPN	108	2:23:23, Osaka, 2012	History
Tetyana Gamera-Shmyrko (30)	UKR	109	2:23:58, Osaka, 2013	History
Kim Smith (31)	NZL	110	2:25:21, London, 2010	History
Ana Dulce Félix (31)	POR	111	2:25:40, New York City, 2011	History
Sabrina Mockenhaupt (32)	GER	112	2:26:21, Berlin, 2010	History
Lisa Stublic (29)	CRO	114	2:25:44, Zurich, 2013	History
Yolanda Caballero (31)	COL	115	2:26:17, Boston, 2011	History
Amy Hastings (29)	USA	116	2:27:03, Los Angeles, 2011	History
Diane Nukuri-Johnson (28)	BDI	117	2:29:54, Boston, 2013	History
Janet Bawcom (35)	USA	118	2:29:45, 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Women’s Marathon, 2012	History
Adriana Nelson (33)	USA	119	2:28:52, London, 2008	History
Alisha Williams (31)	USA	120	2:34:57, Sacramento, 2012	History
Aziza Aliyu (28)	ETH	122	2:36:55, Duluth, 2011	History
Delilah DiCrescenzo (30)	USA	124	Debut	History
Claudia Pinna (35)	ITA	125	2:37:12, Frankfurt, 2012	History
Mattie Suver (26)	USA	126	2:50:23, Duluth, 2013	History
Katie DiCamillo (26)	USA	127	2:38:50, Philadelphia Marathon, 2012	History
Danna Kelly Herrick (27)	USA	128	2:43:57, Duluth, 2011	History
Julia Mallon (35)	USA	129	2:44:07, Houston, 2012	History
Nichole Porath (30)	USA	130	2:44:12, Houston, 2012	History
Alexandra Cadicamo (25)	USA	132	Debut	History
Hirut Beyene Guangal (21)	ETH	133	2:35:07, Moline, 2012	History
Tigist Tufa (26)	ETH	134	2:40:45, Jacksonville, 2013	History
Muliye Gurmu (29)	ETH	135	2:39:55, Dubai, 2007	History
Lisa Bentley (44)	CAN	144	2:49:36, Boston, 2013	History
Marie-Jose Perec (45)	FRA	145	Debut	History
Franca Fiacconi (48)	ITA	148	2:25:17, New York City, 1998	History
Joan Benoit Samuelson (56)	USA	156	2:21:21, Chicago, 1985	History
Kara Goucher (35)	USA		2:24:52, Boston, 2011	History
Adriana Da Silva (32)	BRA		2:29:17, Tokyo, 2012	History
Lydia Carrick (28)	USA		2:47:06, Boston, 2013	History
Julie Culley (32)	USA		Debut	History