Kenenisa Bekele Joins NYC Marathon Field

Kenenisa Bekele will line up against Eliud Kipchoge at the 2025 New York City Marathon on November 2.

This matchup revives one of distance running’s most iconic rivalries.

The announcement was made on October 24, after 2022 NYC champion Evans Chebet withdrew.

At 43, Bekele is no longer a guaranteed headliner in elite marathon fields.

But his presence alongside Kipchoge adds historical weight to this year’s race.

Between them, the two legends have shaped two decades of global distance running.

They’ve raced five times over the marathon distance, with Kipchoge taking four wins to Bekele’s one.

Kipchoge won their first encounter on the track at the 2003 Bislett Games in Oslo.

Bekele had the edge in their early years, dominating head-to-heads on the track.

But once both athletes turned to the roads, the momentum shifted.

Kipchoge became the face of modern marathoning, winning four London and two Olympic titles.

Bekele’s career on the roads has been more mercurial, brilliant but inconsistent.

He ran 2:01:41 in Berlin in 2019, missing Kipchoge’s then-world record by just two seconds.

This will be Bekele’s first New York City Marathon since 2021, when he finished sixth in 2:06:47.

For Kipchoge, this is his debut, and a symbolic one, as he seeks to complete all six Abbott World Marathon Majors.

There’s no guarantee that either athlete will contend for the win.

But in many ways, that’s beside the point, as this race is about memory and legacy.

The rivalry between Bekele and Kipchoge began long before either man turned to the marathon.

Their paths have defined an era of distance running, from Olympic tracks to record-setting roads.

On November 2, Bekele and Kipchoge will start a new chapter in their storied rivalry.

The outcome is uncertain, but one thing is clear: this race will be one for the ages.

Bekele and Kipchoge have a combined 20 years of experience at the top level.

Their matchup in New York will be a clash of titans, with both athletes seeking to prove their enduring legacy.

The stage is set for an epic showdown between two of distance running’s greatest athletes.

The 2025 New York City Marathon will be a race to remember, with Bekele and Kipchoge leading the charge.