Once again, the New York City Marathon, set for November, will have a distinctive Flagstaff contingent.
The New York Road Runners Association released its initial list of women and men’s elites.
Here are the locals:
WOMEN
Sharon Lokedi (Dark Sky Distance): Coming off an impressive fourth-place finish in the Olympics, the Kenyan who trained in Flagstaff with Under Armour’s team will try to become a repeat winner in the Big Apple. It’ll be tough, though, considering the likes of Hellen Obiri . Tirunesh Dibaba and Sheila Chepkirui, among others, also are slated to run.
Kellyn Taylor (NAZ Elite): Taylor has won raced a marathon since running on a stress fracture at the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in February, finishing 15th in 2:30:28, though she did run well on little training in the 10,000 meters Olympic Trials in June.
Aliphine Tuliamuk (NAZ Elite): A lingering hamstring injury has dogged Tuliamuk – -the 2020 Olympic Marathon Trials champion — for about a year. It forced her to drop out of the 2024 Olympic Trials. She has not raced a marathon since finishing 11th in the 2023 Boston Marathon in 2:24:37. Tuliamuk last ran NYC in 2022, placing seventh in 2:26:18.
Jessa Hansen (Verde Track Club/Puma): The former NAU star made her marathon debut at the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials, finishing 18th in 2:31:02. She has a half marathon best of 1:11:26 at the 2023 Cowtown Half in Fort Worth, Texas.
Katya Goldring (Team Run Flagstaff): At 34, Goldring has been consistent in the marathon, posting her personal best in December of 2022 at the California International Marathon and followed that by running 2:30:31 in Hamburg in April of 2023.
MEN
Rory Linkletter (Puma/Ryan Hall Group): Linkletter, representing Canada in the Olympics, was understandably disappointed with his 2:13:09 effort for 47th place two weeks ago, especially after coming off an impressive 2:08:01 marathon in Sevilla in February.
Futsum Ziensellassie (NAZ Elite): Ziensellassie boasts a 2:09:40 marathon best from Rotterdam in 2023, and last raced a marathon at the Olympic Trials, finishing 14th in 2:13:58. He also ran New York last year, placing 10th in 2:12:09.
Wesley Kiptoo (NAZ ELite): This will be Kiptoo’s second try at the marathon; his debut was 2:10:43 last year in Chicago. He does boast a 1:00:43 half marathon personal best from Houston this year.
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