One of the great things about being an avid runner is that there are so many ways to pursue your passion. This can involve going to the gym, stepping out for a long run on a beautiful day, or even taking your dedication to different parts of world while participating in global marathons. There are minimal excuses from a redundancy perspective, as there’s always an opportunity to run in a new location.
Every marathon is a unique opportunity to challenge yourself and see different parts of the world, but perhaps one of the premier events in this space is the New York City marathon. Traversing through all five boroughs, crossing over some of the globe’s most iconic bridges, while usually completing it in a comfortable November climate are some of the most notable positives.
It’s exciting for fans of the race as well because ardent supporters want to see everyone do well. High fives, loud cheers and words of encouragement are provided to the runners who have worked so hard to get to that point.
We’ll take a look at the accomplishments and journeys of five recent winners of the New York City marathon.
Shalane Flanagan
Shalane Flanagan is the last American woman to win the New York City marathon, capturing victory in the 2017 edition of the race. United States sports betting aficionados were happy to see the Colorado native take home the crown, as she’s one of the most accomplished runners in American history. She ran the New York City marathon in 2 hours and 26 minutes, but holds the record for the fastest women’s Boston Marathon time as 2 hours and 22 minutes.
These days, Flanagan remains involved in the sport in a few different ways. She’s spent time focusing on nutrition-related topics, which help athletes optimize what they put into their bodies in order to enhance performance in their field. She also has invested her time giving back to youth runners in recent years, working as an assistant coach for the distance running team at the University of Oregon.
Sharon Lokedi
Sharon Lokedi won the most recent New York City marathon, spanning the 26.2 mile course in 2 hours and 23 minutes. She became just the second woman ever to win the event in her first try, which will give a special place in the winners circle for a long time. She’s originally from Kenya, but went to college in the United States at the University of Kansas.
While she was with the Jayhawks, Lokedi had a stellar career, bringing home many accolades. She was named 2019 Women’s Indoor Track and Field Performer Of The Year, and set several Big 12 conference records during her time there. Her victory in the 2022 New York City marathon was made even more impressive due to the unusually high temperatures that day, which challenged veteran runners of the race as well.
Geoffrey Kamworor
Geoffrey Kamworor is another Kenyan runner who you might miss if you blink. He had an impressive run at the New York City marathon at the end of the last decade, winning it twice in 2017 and 2019. Kamworor sprinted through Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens, The Bronx and Manhattan in 2 hours and 10 minutes in 2017, and 2 hours and 8 minutes in 2019.
Although Kamworor is proud of his success in New York, he was also excited about spreading his horizons in Boston this year. In addition to participating in another famous race, Kamworor was nostalgic about the course layout in Boston, since the hilly contours reminded him of a route he ran in Kenya. He’s still just 30 years old and should be able to be in the mix for other victories in the coming years.
Ghirmay Ghebreslassie
One great thing about the marathon and sports in general is that skill and perseverance are respected from athletes who come from all over the world. It gives people a chance to learn about people and cultures they may not have otherwise crossed paths with. Ghirmay Ghebreslassie of Eritrea crossed the finish line first in the 2016 New York City marathon, giving the country their first victory in the competition.
In addition to coming from a country not known for its athletics, Ghebreslassie also rose to the top of the sport at a young age. He won the marathon when he was just 21 years old, and still has many years of elite performance ahead of him.
Susannah Scaroni
While Susannah Scaroni is not a runner, she did win the 2022 New York City marathon. Scaroni set a new course record in the woman’s wheelchair division this year, reminding people everywhere to keep pushing through adversity.
Scaroni is no stranger to success, as she’s also a Paralympic gold medalist.