NEW YORK (18-Feb) — Olympians Conner Mantz (Nike) and Emily Sisson (New Steadiness) are set to steer the United States fee on the 18th version of the United Airways NYC Part right here on Sunday, March 16. The 2 USA listing holders-the half-marathon for Mantz and the marathon for Sisson- are a part of a star-studded box introduced as of late by way of race founders and organizers, New York Highway Runners. The 2024 version was once the second-largest half-marathon in the USA final 12 months, with 27,824 finishers.
Mantz, 28, who gained the United States Olympic Staff Trials Marathon final February, is coming off a record-setting runner-up end on the Aramco Houston Part-Marathon on January 19, the place he set a brand new American listing of 59:17. In that race, Mantz additionally set nationwide data at 15 km (42:05), 10 miles (45:16), and 20 km (56:23) on his strategy to the end. Closing November, he completed 6th within the TCS New York Town Marathon in 2:09:00, the quickest time ever by way of an American at that race.
“I was fortunate to kick off my 2025 season with an American record in the half-marathon,” Mantz mentioned via a commentary. “Racing the United Airlines NYC Half will help me to continue that momentum during an important year of racing. Every time I race in New York, the crowds and camaraderie are unmatched, so I’m excited to have another opportunity to compete against some of the fastest and strongest athletes in the world.”
Conner Mantz competing within the 2024 TCS New York Town Marathon (photograph by way of Jane Monti for Race Effects Weekly)
Sisson, 33, made her half-marathon debut on the NYC Part again in 2017 when she battled her then coaching spouse Molly Huddle proper to the tape, clocking 1:08:21 to complete moment by way of two seconds. She completed moment once more in 2018, and hasn’t competed within the match since. Alternatively, she later ran very good half-marathons on flatter classes, and set a since-broken nationwide listing of one:06:52 in Houston in 2023. She set the still-standing USA marathon listing of two:18:29 on the Financial institution of The united states Chicago Marathon in 2022.
Each Mantz and Sisson could have quite a few pageant for the NYC Part’s $20,000 first prize. Two Kenyans, Abel Kipchumba and Richard Etir, have rapid non-public absolute best occasions of 58:07 and 59:32, respectively on their résumés. Kipchumba, who represents adidas, gained the 2024 version of the race in 1:00:25, whilst Etir will make his New York debut.
Different most sensible entrants come with Briton Patrick Dever (1:00:11 PB); American citizens Hillary Bor (1:00:20), Biya Simbassa (1:00:37), and Reed Fischer (1:00:54); Kenyan Wesley Kiptoo (1:00:34); Eritrean Yemane Haileselassie (1:01:34); and Japan’s Yudai Kiyama (1:00:32) and Hibiki Murakami (1:01:46). Canadian Olympic 5000m silver medalist Moh Ahmed, and two-time American Olympian Woody Kincaid will make their half-marathon debuts (each have run sub-27:00 for 10,000m at the observe).
At the girls’s facet three-time Ecu move nation champion, Karoline Bjerkeli Grøvdal of Norway, will attempt to retain her name. She gained the 2024 version of the race in 1:09:09, 18 seconds forward of Kenyan Gladys Chepkurui.
“Winning the 2024 United Airlines NYC Half was a dream come true and set the tone for the rest of my season,” mentioned Grøvdal, who represents adidas. “This race is extremely special to me and to have the opportunity to defend my title is an incredible honor.”
Together with Sisson and Grøvdal, a complete of 7 girls who’re entered have run below 68 mins for the half-marathon distance. The others are Lonah Chemtai Salpeter of Israel (1:06:09), Calli Hauger-Thackery of Nice Britain (1:06:58), Sara Corridor of the USA (1:07:15), Sharon Lokedi of Kenya (1:07:42), and Fiona O’Keeffe of the USA (1:07:42). O’Keeffe was once the 2024 USA Olympic Staff Trials Marathon champion.
Within the skilled wheelchair department, Susannah Scaroni will check out for her 3rd immediately NYC Part name, whilst Dutchman Geert Schipper will attempt to win for the second one consecutive time.
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This 12 months’s NYC Part will take runners over the Brooklyn Bridge for the primary time after the use of the Long island Bridge for the reason that get started was once moved to Brooklyn from Long island in 2018. The end line will nonetheless be in Central Park, simply south of Tavern at the Inexperienced. The purpose-to-point path isn’t record-eligible however could be very tricky, with many hills and a prime level of 45 meters above sea stage.
