New York City Marathon: Ranking the Top 5 Contenders for the Women's Title

New York’s premier road race is stacked top heavy with a women’s elite field boasting Mary Keitany, hometown heroine Buzunesh Deba and London Marathon winner Edna Kiplagat. Even without defending champion Priscah Jeptoo, leading candidates for the crown can be expected to challenge Margaret Okayo’s course record.

Central Park has twice been a scene of heartbreak for Keitany. Her 2010 debut promised a maiden victory, only for Kiplagat and Shalane Flanagan to post times ahead of the Kenyan.

After settling into a comfortable lead in 2011, Keitany was again relegated to third place on the podium after being overtaken by Firehiwot Dado and Deba. The Ethiopian duo will again seek to get the better of their African counterpart, who has been absent from competitive marathon running since finishing fourth at the London Olympics.

Her break from training due to the birth of her second child means she arrives fresh for what she hopes will be a case of third time lucky in Manhattan.

If Keitany's record in New York is one of disappointment, it is trumped only by the anguish of Deba. Following her second place three years ago, she was made runner-up in 2013 after Jeptoo thundered beyond her in the latter stages of the race.

Having already achieved a 2:19:59 personal best in Boston this term, Deba has the form to take advantage of any contenders not at their best.

A win for Kiplagat would see her replace Rita Jeptoo at the head of the world marathon majors leaderboard.

In a thrilling sprint-finish victory over Florence Kiplagat at April’s London Marathon, the 35-year-old realised an ambition that seemed all but unattainable. Three past disappointments were eventually overcome in a time of 2:20:21.

Although a past winner of the women’s title, Dado’s personal best of 2:23:15 is some way shy of the equivalent times for Keitany, Deba and Kiplagat. Standing tall on the podium this time around has to be viewed as an outside opportunity.

Growing up in Nandi district, a former part of the long-distance running Holy Grail of the rift valley, Jemima Sumgong rose to fame after winning her first marathon in Las Vegas eight years ago. Much time has since been spent improving over the distance, culminating in a runner-up spot at the 2012 Boston Marathon.

To feature among the medals would signal a continued rise in form.

The two eldest American starters, Deena Kastor and Kara Goucher, are sure to be spurred on by a buoyant Big Apple.

Queens-born Goucher will be targeting 2:28, some way short of challenging the lead pack for honours.

Speaking to the runner’s forum LetsRun, she admitted wanting to use the race as a marker for progression toward a third consecutive Olympic Games in 2016.

At 41, Kastor continues to be at the forefront of American female distance running. Kastor’s dedication and commitment to bettering her original New York Marathon performance 13 years ago is well worth looking out for.