O’Berry: “In New York, it’s not about time, it’s about winning the race”

Helen O’Berry, who won in New York After an exciting fast race in the last kilometer, he confirmed that his maximum speed came from his competition on the track. “Sometimes, when you’re a track runner, you have to have that speed. Even when you’re a marathon runner, you have to have that sprint speed (…) in your legs.”He said in the press conference after the test.

“I’m a marathon runner coming from track, so I can do well in the last 400 metres,” she added. Obiri, 33 years old and winner of the Boston race in 2023, won after an epic finish after three riders reached the final kilometer of the race tied.

In a slow-paced and very strategic race, Obiri achieved a time of 2:27:23 (the New York women’s record was held by Kenya’s Margaret Okayao with 2:22:31 in 2003) after leaving her behind with a brilliant sprint in the final metres. The Ethiopian Letesenbet Gidey (2 Sam. 27:29).

Thus, Obiri replaced her compatriot Sharon Lokedi, who was the champion in 2022 and who finished third this year with a very large difference from the winner (2 hours and 27:33). Obiri won two silver medals in the 5,000 meters at the Olympic Games (Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020) and a two-time world champion over the same distance (London 2017 and Doha 2019). Obiri also became the first woman to win the Boston Marathon and the Doha Marathon in New York in the same season since Norwegian Ingrid Christiansen. 1989.

“It’s an honor to be here for a second year,” said Aubiri, who placed sixth in his first show in 2022 in New York.

“I had a bad debut and I said to myself: ‘I don’t want to come back next year.’” And then I said: “Here I go again.” Sometimes you learn from your mistakes. I made a lot of mistakes last year and I wanted to do my best (this year). I was ready. “I worked with my coach and with my family and I finally got it.”

Regarding the slow pace of the race and how to know when to attack, Aubiri said that in a marathon like the New York Marathon, “patience” is key. “In New York, it’s not about time: it’s about winning the race. I told myself I had to be patient until the last few miles. So when I entered Central Park I said: ‘Can I move?’ “So I started to pick up the pace.” It is to explain.