The CITIUS MAG Podcast | A Running + Track and Field Show 2025 NYC MARATHON RECAP + MELISSA JEFFERSON-WOODEN/BEATRICE CHEBET SNUBBED FOR ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
The 54th New York City Marathon is in the books, and what a race it was. Nearly 60,000 runners took to the streets of the Big Apple, and near-perfect weather conditions meant that times were fast and racing was fierce.
We got to witness both historically-fast and historically-close races, as three women broke the 22-year-old course record and the men’s race was decided by a photo finish, the smallest margin in the race’s history. Hellen Obiri is now a two-time champ—winning first in 2023 and again in 2025—and Benson Kipruto claimed his fourth World Marathon Major title by mere inches.
For the second time this year, Hellen Obiri and Sharon Lokedi claimed the top two spots on a World Marathon Major podium. In April, Lokedi held off Obiri to claim her first Boston Marathon title as both shattered the course record. Once again, Obiri and Lokedi (plus third-placer Sheila Chepkirui, the 2024 champ) worked together to run the fastest time in New York history. Only this time, Obiri turned the tables on her rival with a blistering final 800 meters and a 2:19:51 victory.
For those watching along on the CITIUS MAG YouTube broadcast, Chris Chavez came very close to ending up on “Old Takes Exposed.” With about half a mile to go in the men’s race, he called Benson Kipruto as the race winner. Kipruto, the Paris bronze medalist and a three-time World Marathon Major winner, had survived the whittling down of the lead pack over the second half and found himself in the driver’s seat in Central Park, putting the hurt on 2024 London champ Alexander Mutiso Munyao.
There was only one problem: with 200 meters left in the race, Mutiso found one last gear and began to reel Kipruto back in. Kipruto was focused on navigating the slight uphill finish of New York’s and only realized Mutiso was so close in the final steps, turning on one last burst of speed to stay ahead of his challenger. It was a true photo finish, as 0.3 seconds separated the duo and both men were credited with a time of 2:08:09.
You can find our full NYC Marathon recap here.
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Hosts: Chris Chavez | @chris_j_chavez on Instagram + Preet Majithia | @preet_athletics on Instagram
Produced by: Jasmine Fehr | @jasminefehr on Instagram
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