LetsRun.com Track Talk Podcast: NYC Records, Grant Fisher News, and Joel Reichow’s Breakthrough
By LetsRun.com
The LetsRun.com crew had plenty to unpack after a historic 2025 New York City Marathon. Hellen Obiri smashed a 22-year-old course record with her 2:19:51 win, while Benson Kipruto completed the rare American major triple crown, Boston, Chicago, and now New York.
Obiri’s record run, Kipruto’s triple crown, Americans impress
“It’s about time New York got a course record under 2:20,” said Rojo. “I loved the way Obiri did it… to me marathons are about hammering in Central Park, and that’s what happened.”
Jonathan Gault noted that the record might have fallen sooner if anyone had incentive to chase it. “This course record was capable of going down for several years,” he said. “We finally had someone willing to do it.”
Fiona O’Keefe led the American charge with a 2:22:49 for fourth, followed by Annie Frisbie (2:24:12), Emily Sisson (2:25:05), and Amanda Vestri (2:25:40), four of the five fastest times ever by Americans in New York. “That stat about the fastest times in New York history for Americans, throw it out,” Rojo said. “But I was extremely impressed by O’Keefe. She was hanging with these leaders and showed she’s made for the marathon.”
A wild men’s finish and an American breakthrough
The men’s race ended in chaos, with Kipruto outleaning Alexander Mutiso by just three hundredths of a second, the closest finish in race history. “He kept looking over his shoulder,” Gault said. “I’m just like, dude, forget about where Mutiso is, just hammer, the finish line’s right there.” Kipruto’s win gives him four of the six World Marathon Majors and solidifies him as one of the world’s top marathoners.
The highlight for U.S. fans came from Minnesota’s Joel Reichow, who ran 2:09:56 for sixth, finishing as top American. “He was turned away from Chicago’s elite field this fall,” Gault said. “To me this is just a great ‘where your dreams become reality’ story. He works full time at a running store, has no shoe sponsor or agent, and he goes out and beats Olympians.”
Beyond New York: Fisher out of World Cross, Valby, Kipchoge, and more
Later in the show, the hosts discussed Grant Fisher’s decision to skip the World Cross Country Championships, calling it “disappointing” but understandable after a long season. “It’s a once-in-a-career opportunity,” said Gault. “But it sounds like he’s targeting a half marathon next year.”
They also covered Parker Valby’s comeback, Eliud Kipchoge’s “World Tour” announcement, World Athletics’ Athlete of the Year controversy, and closed with a tribute to legendary Baylor coach Clyde Hart.
- Show notes:
- 00:00 New York records & revelations, Grant Fisher OUT of World cross, Parker Valby’s return
- 00:22 Introduction and Podcast Overview
- 04:28 Hellen Obiri goes sub 2:20 and gets NYC course record
- 10:23 American women 4 of the 5 fastest American times ever in NY
- 19:41 Men’s race and crazy finish
- 24:52 Could Conner Mantz have won?
- 30:46 The Swiss orienteering guy
- 36:14 Eliud Kipchoge’s Performance and Future Plans
- 46:49 Where your dreams become reality Joel Reichow first American
- 51:25 Minnesota Distance Elite impresses
- 53:01 Nick Thompson’s Marathon
- 54:41 Is Parker Valby back?
- 59:52 Grant Fisher’s skipping world cross
- 01:03:25 World Cross Country Championships Debate
- 01:09:25 Des Linden downplays the marathon and shitting yourself during a race
- 01:13:20 NCAA Cross Country Highlights
- 01:18:16 Josh Hoey’s Coaching Changes
- 01:26:45 World Athletics AOY “controversy”
- 01:35:28 Tribute to Clyde Hart
