The reigning New York City Marathon champion Sharon Lokedi is hungry to defend her title against a competitive field that has attracted the fastest women in the world.

Lokedi will be up against Boston Marathon winner Hellen Obiri, Olympic gold medallist Peres Jepchirchir and marathon world record-holder Brigid Kosgei in a star-studded field on November 5.

“Last year, I came into the TCS New York City Marathon with the goal of being in the thick of the race, and the result was better than what I had hoped for. This year, I’m returning with a different mindset, hungry to defend my title and race against the fastest women in the world,” said Lokedi.

Lokedi won the World Athletics Elite Platinum Label road race on her marathon debut last year, pulling away in the final two miles to finish in 2:23:23. 

Obiri, a two-time world 5,000m champion, said she feels ready for the challenge after winning the Boston Marathon earlier in the year, saying the race gave her the experience she needed to tackle her opponents.

“With a year of marathon experience now under my belt, a win in Boston, and my move to the US, I’m coming to New York this year with more confidence and in search of a title,” said Obiri who finished sixth on her debut in New York last year.

After failing to defend her title in New York last year due to an injury, Jepchirchir is determined to win this year's race, saying she feels more than ready.

“I was so disappointed that I couldn’t defend my title in New York last year due to an injury. Winning again in Central Park has been my main motivation as I begin my preparations for the autumn,” offered Jepchirchir who won the 2021 race in 2:22:39 —the third fastest time on the course.

Kosgei, the Chicago, London and Tokyo marathons champion, will be making her New York debut but says she is unfazed by the elite field as she targets to claim her fourth World Marathon Major.

“I am very excited to make my New York City debut this fall and attempt to win my fourth different major. I am not worried about the course, as I have had success in hilly marathons before."

"New York has always been about head-to-head competition, and I know I must be in the best possible shape to compete with the other women in the race,” said the fastest woman in marathon history with a time of 2:14:04 set in 2019 in Chicago.