On Tuesday, the New York Road Runners (NYRR) announced the elite field for November’s 2025 TCS New York City Marathon, which will feature all four defending champions, plus nine more former champions looking to reclaim the crown. Among them will be Quebec City’s national 10K Champion Charles Philibert-Thiboutot–the lone Canadian in the pro field–who will be making a massive leap in distance to make his marathon debut.
“The cat is out of the bag!” Philibert-Thiboutot wrote on his Instagram story. “Incredibly honoured to be part of this field for my marathon debut.” The Canadian has only dabbled in road racing–a few 10Ks and one half-marathon, clocking 1:09:15 at the 2018 Toronto Waterfront Half. In NYC, he’s set to be one of five elite runners tackling 42.2 kilometres for the first time.
Charles Philibert-Thiboutot breaks Canadian 10K record in Ottawa
A two-time Olympian in the 1,500m, Philibert-Thiboutot has established himself as one of Canada’s top middle-distance runners. In May, the Quebec native showed off his range by taking the national title at his Canadian 10K Championships debut in Ottawa, running a new national record of 28:06. The announcement of his upcoming marathon debut comes just three days after he earned the 1,500m silver medal at the NACAC Championships in the Bahamas.
A deep men’s field
After claiming his first World Marathon Major title at last year’s race, Abdi Nageeye of the Netherlands is back, set to defend his title, boasting a PB and national record of 2:04:20. Threatening his title are four athletes who have dipped under 2:04:00:
- Olympic bronze medallist Benson Kipruto of Kenya leads the field with a PB of 2:02:16 from just last year
- Deresa Geleta of Ethiopia, the 2025 Zurich Seville Marathon champion, boasts a best time of 2:02:38,
- Kenya’s Evans Chebet, last year’s runner-up after a tight battle with Nageeye in the final kilometre, enters with a personal best of 2:03:00.
Kenya’s Albert Korir (2:06:57), last year’s bronze medallist, is also set to toe the line. The men’s course record of 2:04:58 was set by Ethiopia’s Tamirat Tola in 2023; Tola will not be returning this year.
A women’s rivalry
Last year’s winner, Kenya’s Sheila Chepkirui, enters with a 2:17:29 and will look to claim her second World Marathon Major title. Challenging her are compatriots Sharon Lokedi, the 2025 Boston Marathon champion, and Hellen Obiri, runner-up at the 2024 NYC and 2025 Boston races. The pair, who won New York in 2022 (Lokedi) and 2023 (Obiri), have lifetime bests of 2:17:22 and 2:17:41, respectively.
American record holder Emily Sisson (2:18:23) will also take on NYC for the first time, while 2020 Olympic bronze medallist Molly Seidel (2:23:07) will be returning to the marathon for the first time since 2023, after being sidelined by injury.
The women’s course record of 2:22:31, set by Kenya’s Margaret Okayo, has stood since 2003.
