Men’s Professional Field Announced for TCS New York City Marathon

After releasing the women’s elite field on Tuesday, New York Road Runners announced the men’s professional lineup this morning for the TCS New York City Marathon on Sunday, November 4. Joining defending champions Geoffrey Kamworor (KEN) and Marcel Hug (SUI) will be nine Olympians and 14 Paralympians in both the open and wheelchair divisions.

American and five-time Olympian Bernard Lagat will make his marathon debut this fall at the iconic race. At 43, Lagat has competed at every summer Olympics on the track since the 2000 Sydney Games, representing Kenya until 2004 when he became a U.S. citizen. In 2007, as a Team USA member, Lagat became the first American to win an outdoor world championship gold medal over 1500 meters. With 11 world championship medals (five golds) to his name in the 1500-, 3000- and 5000-meter distances, he is also the American record-holder in all three distances.

“I first competed in New York City in 2001 at the Millrose Games, and fell in love with the city on that trip. I’ve been back again and again, and now have eight Wanamaker Mile titles, five podium finishes at the Fifth Avenue Mile, and I set the U.S. 5000-meter indoor record there,” said Lagat in a release. “A few years ago, I was able to watch the TCS New York City Marathon from one of the lead vehicles, and I knew that when I ran a marathon someday, I wanted it to be in New York. I’m so excited to return for this new challenge and hope to continue the success I’ve had there.”

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Taking on Lagat and Kamworor will be four-time U.S. Olympian Abdi Abdirahman, 2018 Boston Marathon third-place finisher Shadrack Biwott, 2018 Virgin Money London Marathon runner-up Shura Kitata, Kenya’s 2017 Virgin Money London Marathon champion Daniel Wanjiru, Boston Marathon champion (2013, 2015) Lelisa Desisa of Ethiopia, Mexico’s two-time Olympian Juan Luis Barrios and Rio 2016 Olympian Jared Ward.

In the men’s wheelchair division, Australia’s Kurt Fearnley will seek out a sixth win at the event. Having won four consecutive titles from 2006 to 2009, the 36-year-old’s event-record time of 1:29:22 from 2006 still stands. The division includes eight Abbott World Marathon Majors race winners and 14 Paralympians including past champions David Weir of Great Britain and Ernst van Dyk of South Africa.

“The New York City Marathon has been a highlight of my year since I got my first start in 2005. I feel incredibly privileged to have won this race five times,” said Fearnley in a statement. “Those wins are a jewel in my career. I’m always excited to be back on the TCS New York City Marathon start line. With the field as strong as I have ever seen it, a sixth win will be more challenging than ever, but always in the back of my mind.”

The 2018 TCS New York City Marathon will be televised live on Sunday, November 4 on WABC-TV, Channel 7 in the New York tristate area from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. ET, or on ESPN2 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. ET. To see the full list of top professional men competing at this year’s event, click here.

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