New York City Marathon Champions Geoffrey Mutai and Priscah Jeptoo Return to Defend Titles in November

Two-time defending champion and course record-holder Mutai seeks to become the first three-time winner of the men’s race since 1982

2012 Olympic silver medalist Jeptoo hopes to join prestigious group of seven women who have won multiple titles

Race will be televised live nationally on ESPN2 and in the New York City metropolitan area on WABC-TV

Press Release

New York, August 21, 2014—Reigning New York City Marathon champions Geoffrey Mutai and Priscah Jeptoo, both of Kenya, will defend their titles against all-star professional fields at the 2014 TCS New York City Marathon on Sunday, November 2, 2014, it was announced today by Mary Wittenberg, president and CEO of New York Road Runners. In last year’s race, Mutai outran the men’s field to win by nearly a minute in 2:08:24, and Jeptoo came from more than a half-mile behind to take the lead in the race’s final three miles and win in a time of 2:25:07.

“With Geoffrey and Priscah headlining the 2014 TCS New York City Marathon, we welcome back two great champions to the streets of New York City,” said Wittenberg. “Last year, as they led 50,000 runners in the largest marathon ever, both Geoffrey and Priscah were inspirations to us all.  This November, when they line up in Staten Island to start their journey through the unique neighborhoods of the City’s five boroughs, these world-class athletes will be chasing history, as Geoffrey goes for a New York hat trick and Priscah looks to join an elite group of repeat winners.”

Mutai, 32, is the course record holder (2:05:06) and two-time defending champion of the New York City Marathon. He ran the fastest marathon of all time (2:03:02) to win the 2011 Boston Marathon; however, the course is ineligible for world records due to its net drop in elevation and point-to-point layout. In 2012, Mutai, the reigning NYC Half 2014 champion, captured the 2011–2012 World Major Marathon series title with victories at three of the six World Marathon Majors races—Boston (2011), New York (2011), and Berlin (2012).

“I’ll be back!” said Mutai. “New York is a very special place for me and I’m very excited to defend my title and go for a third win at the TCS New York City Marathon.”

A victory for Mutai would make him the third man in history to win three or more New York City Marathons and the first to do so since Alberto Salazar won the race from 1980 to 1982. Bill Rogers won four consecutive times, from 1976 to 1979.

Mutai will join recently announced 2014 Boston Marathon Champion Meb Keflezighi on the start line on November 2. Mutai can be followed on Twitter at @GeoffreyMutaiK.

Mutai ended up on top of NY last year. *More Mutai Empire State Builting photos

Jeptoo, 30, is the reigning New York City Marathon champion. She clinched the 2012–2013 World Marathon Majors series title with victories at both the New York and London Marathons in 2013, a silver-medal performance at the 2012 London Olympic Games Marathon, and a third-place finish at the London Marathon in 2012. Jeptoo ran the second fastest half marathon of all time (1:05:45, record ineligible) to win the 2013 Bupa Great North Run over legendary Ethiopian Olympic gold medalists Meseret Defar and Tirunesh Dibaba, and boasts a marathon personal best of 2:20:14. After suffering an injury that caused her to drop out of the 2014 Virgin Money London Marathon this past spring, Jeptoo is determined to defend her title at the 2014 TCS New York City Marathon.

“I am very happy to come back to defend my title at the TCS New York City Marathon early November,” said Jeptoo. “I know the field will be extremely competitive in New York as it is every year, but I will try my best to win again.  I recovered well from my injury in London and hope all will be good in my preparation from now until November 2.”

A win for Jeptoo in New York this year would make her the seventh woman ever to win two consecutive years in a row (event record-holder Margaret Okayo won the race in 2001 and 2003). Nine-time champion Grete Waitz and three-time champion Paula Radcliffe are the only women to have won more than two titles.

The TCS New York City Marathon will be televised live nationally on ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes+ from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. EST. For those who have video subscriptions with affiliated providers, the race will also be available via WatchESPN. The race will be broadcast live in the New York City metropolitan area on WABC-TV from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. EST. Viewers can also watch the race on 7online or via WatchABC on mobile devices (for participating cable providers). Pre-race features from the start at Fort Wadsworth will be broadcast live at 7:00 a.m. on WABC-TV, 7online.com, and WatchABC, and a national highlights show will air from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. on local ABC affiliates. International viewers can watch the broadcast via a live digital stream from 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. EST on 7online.com or via a variety of global broadcast partners (international viewers should check local listings).

Last year, 50,266 runners crossed the finish line of the New York City Marathon, making it the world’s largest marathon ever. Runners from more than 100 countries and each of the 50 states participated.

More: LetsRun.com’s 2013 NYC Marathon Coverage

About the TCS New York City Marathon

The TCS New York City Marathon is the most popular and inclusive marathon in the world, attracting the world’s top professional athletes and a vast range of recreational runners. The race began in 1970 with just 127 entrants racing four laps of Central Park. Today, an estimated 50,000 runners from around the world tour New York City’s five boroughs, starting on Staten Island at the foot of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge and finishing in Central Park. Participants include Olympians, Paralympians, wheelchair racers, top age-group competitors, and many thousands who run for charity and to achieve their own personal goals. Millions of fans cheer the runners from the streets and watch the global television broadcast. The race is part of the World Marathon Majors, an alliance of the world’s six biggest marathons that determines each year’s top male and top female marathoner. The TCS New York City Marathon is the premier event of New York Road Runners, the world’s foremost community running organization, whose mission is to help and inspire people through running. Tata Consultancy Services, a leading global IT services, consulting, and business solutions organization, is the Premier Partner of NYRR and is in its inaugural year as title sponsor of the TCS New York City Marathon.