The 2025 New York City Marathon not only crowned its champion on Sunday, the race also saw a new course record as Kenya's Hellen Obiri crossed the Central Park finish line with a time of 2:19.51 — shattering fellow Kenyan Margaret Okayo's 2003 record by a full two minutes and 40 seconds.

Returning to the top of the New York marathon field after first winning the race in 2023, 2024 runner-up Obiri led a Kenyan contingent that swept the podium, as 2022 winner Sharon Lokedi trailed by a mere 16 seconds while 2024 champion Sheila Chepkirui claimed third with a time of 2:20:24 — all three blasting through the previous course record of 2:22.31.

"We had a very strong field," said Obiri following the race. "[I told myself] let me try to do my best, let me push."

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With her championship, Obiri claimed both the $100,000 winner's check as well as an additional $50,000 in prize money for breaking the course record.

Though the 2025 New York City Marathon marked the second straight year that Kenyan runners owned the podium, Fiona O'Keeffe also made history by setting a a new US course record with her fourth-place finish.

Finishing the five-borough race in 2:22.49, O'Keeffe shaved nearly two minutes off the previous US record of 2:24:42 — set in 2021 by Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist Molly Seidel.

"I can't take too much credit for the time — that was all on the women ahead of me," O'Keeffe said, sharing the spotlight with the runners who pushed her on Sunday. "Grateful to be back in the marathon. Feels like coming home."

After two stretch breaks and one near-collision with a motorbike, Sifan Hassan somehow managed to win the 2023 London Marathon on Sunday.

Competing in her marathon debut — against one of the deepest women’s fields in history — Hassan outsprinted Alemu Megertu of Ethiopia and Peres Jepchirchir of Kenya to cross the tape first.

“I just can’t believe I (won),” said Hassan, who then revised that statement. “Not win, I just can’t believe I finished (a) marathon.”

Hassan stopped twice during Sunday’s marathon to stretch her left hip and, with 11 miles left to go, was 28 seconds behind the lead pack. After catching back up, Hassan was then nearly taken out by a motorbike when she darted to the hydration station two miles left.

“This morning I was telling myself, I’m so stupid (to run a marathon). Why am I playing this kind of game? What the hell am I thinking that I want to run a marathon,” said Hassan, whose career was previously focused on the track. The Dutchwoman had an unprecedented showing at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, winning gold in the 5000m and 10,000m, and bronze in the 1500m.