Tigist Tufa was a 2:40 marathoner 2 years ago. Now she's London champ.
Former champs Mary Keitany, Priscah Jeptoo and Edna Kiplagat and HM WR holder Florence Kiplagat take on Dubai champ Aselefech Mergia and 2014 World #1, Tirfi Tsegaye.
Tirfi Tsegaye won two majors and is world #1 in a year marred by doper Rita Jeptoo.
In a battle that spanned five boroughs and took almost all of the course’s 26.2 miles, 32-year-old Mary Keitany of Kenya made her triumphant return to marathoning after a 2+ year absence, winning the 2014 TCS New York City Marathon in 2:25:07 over fellow Kenyan Jemima Sumgong. We break down the women's race.
Mary Keitany (2:18:37 pb) may be a Paula Radcliffe type talent, but she'll have her hands full in NYC in her first marathon in two years. She'll be challenged by former double World Champ Edna Kiplagat, and NYC champs Jelena Prokopcuka and Firehiwot Dado, plus 2013 runner-up Buzunesh Deba. Desiree Linden leads the American field, which also includes 41-year-old Deena Kastor (shooting for 2:25) and Kara Goucher, in her first marathon since April 2013.
Jeptoo is healthy now, but lost too much training time. They will be replaced by 2013 Boston champ Lelisa Desisa and Chicago Marathon runner-up Jemima Sumgong.