New York City Marathon: Keitany vs. Cheruiyot vs. Linden vs. Flanagan

The TCS New York City Marathon has just announced one of their deepest women’s elite fields in race history. Big names entered in the event are 2017 champion Shalane Flanagan, three-time champion Mary Keitany, 2018 London Marathon Champion Vivian Cheruiyot, and 2018 Boston Marathon champion Des Linden.

The depth doesn’t stop there. The race features 10 Olympians and three World Marathon Majors race champions.

Peter Ciaccia, race director of the TCS New York City Marathon said in the press release that, “In the open division, the best group of American women marathoners will be assembled since the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials, and along with Mary and Vivian, the competition will be fierce.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bj1s-54FHuO/?hl=en&taken-by=marykeitany

RELATED: Shalane Flanagan to run New York City Marathon

Flanagan will be a big plot-line in the upcoming race. The 2017 champion was expected to retire after last year’s race, where she became the first American woman to win the title in four decades. After New York, Flanagan decided to give Boston one last go. The race, which saw record-breakingly bad conditions, ended in heartbreak for Flanagan, who finished in a disappointing seventh place. It remains unclear what Flanagan’s running plans are post-New York. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/BmvyhTrBrY8/?hl=en&taken-by=mollyhuddle

Other notable entries are Americans Molly Huddle and Sarah Sellers. Huddle has been a staple on the American running scene for years. She’s a three-time United Airlines NYC Half champion and 2016 TCS New York City Marathon third-place finisher. Huddle told reporters, “Running a marathon is always a special experience, but I’m really excited to line up with such a great group of American women in New York this year. I’m so inspired by what Shalane and Des have accomplished over the last 12 months, and I’m eager to add my name to that list.”

RELATED: Six world class runners who also have day jobs

Sellers, a nurse from Tucson, Arizona, was the unknown second-place women’s finisher at the 2018 Boston Marathon. Before her gritty second-place finish at Boston, Sellers was an accomplished high school and college runner who suffered a bone injury that forced her to take years away from the sport. Now she’s back with a vengeance, and it’ll be interesting to see what she can do in New York. 

The New York Marathon runs Sunday November 4th, 2018. The complete elite women’s field can be found here.