Legendary marathon runner Eliud Kipchoge is out for victory in the New York marathon, in what could be his last ever competitive marathon race.
The 40-year-old Kipchoge will lead a Kenyan team of Benson Kipruto, Alexander Mutiso, Albert Korir and Abel Kipchumba against a strong field of Ethiopians that is led by Kenenisa Bekele, a legendary marathoner in his own right.
Ironically, Kipchoge will be making his debut in the New York marathon on Sunday, November 2, but the race could draw the curtains on a stellar career that has spanned two decades.
Widely recognised as one of the greatest marathon runners of all time, Kipchoge will complete the series of Abbott World Marathon Majors in ‘The Big Apple’, adding to 11 Major wins, two Olympic golds, a sub-two hour marathon, and multiple world records.
Speaking ahead of the race, Kipchoge intimated that this would highly likely be his last Marathon Major event, as he sets his sights on other projects.
“November, and it’s New York…It’s a place that has been on my mind for a long time. “It’s time for me to go there and give a good performance before embarking on my new journey of running for other things - running for a purpose," Kipchoge told Olympics.com.
Among the reported projects Kipchoge said he would take part in was running in Antarctica and doing a 50-kilometer marathon in Saudi Arabia, indicating that he was not yet done with athletics.
“I will run in Antarctica! I now want to do that extreme thing that can make someone work hard. A lot is in store, which I will roll out after New York…it will be an interesting journey...to do other things.”
“I will run even 50 kilometres in Saudi Arabia. I want to do that extreme thing that can make somebody work hard and also get partners to rally for a cause.”
Six Star Recognition
If he manages to complete the New York race, Kipchoge will receive the Six Star recognition, reserved for runners who complete the journey across the Abbott World Marathon Majors races.
There are currently seven Abbott World Marathon Majors, after Sydney Marathon joined the original six iconic races: Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago, and New York City.
Despite Sydney’s elevation, the Six Star will remain, to honour the six original races, with the award being introduced in 2016.
There will not be a Seven Star Medal, either. Instead, with Abbott World Marathon Majors evaluating two more candidates (Cape Town and Shanghai), there is now the prospect of a Nine Star Medal in the future.
If he finishes New York, Kipchoge will join 434 other runners to achieve this feat, with the athlete expressing his intent to get the recognition.
His last marathon was the Sydney edition in August, finishing ninth.
Kipchoge last won at the 2023 Berlin Marathon.
