Contenders: Only one of the men who beat Nageeye in London is toeing the line in New York, but Alexander Mutiso Munyao is going to be tough to take down once again. Mutiso won the Great North Run earlier this fall in 1:00:52 (a net-downhill half marathon), and he’s the 2024 London champ. Historically, he’s better on the flat courses of London and Valencia, only finishing 21st at the Olympics last summer, but he’s also got a 2:03:11 PB.

Last year, Benson Kipruto would’ve looked like a co-favorite alongside Nageeye, as the 34-year-old Kenyan who trains alongside Evans Chebet won the Tokyo Marathon in 2:02:16 and won an Olympic bronze. But this year, his only marathoning result has been a seventh-place finish in Tokyo and third at a low-key half in Bogota, Colombia. So who knows what kind of stuff he’s bringing.

Two other names worth mentioning are Kenyans Abel Kipchumba, who has done well on the streets of New York in the past two back-to-back NYC Half wins, and Albert Korir. Kipchumba has never delivered a performance in the full up to his half capacity, but he’s got a 58:07 PB at his best and he’s 31 years old so a breakout over 26.2 could be coming. Korir doesn’t have the most auspicious times in the field, with a 2:06:57 lifetime best (set on this course), but he’s the 2021 champ and finished third and second in the last two years. Korir knows and loves this course, and sometimes that’s all you need.

The Veterans: Even the most casual of fans have to acknowledge that it’ll be pretty epic to see all-time greats Eliud Kipchoge and Kenenisa Bekele take to the streets of the Big Apple. Kipchoge, who turns 41 next week, is looking to round out his “seven-star” resume as New York City is the final World Marathon Major he hasn’t contested. Most recently, Kipchoge finished ninth at the Sydney Marathon in its first edition as an official major, and after a sixth place finish in London and a DNF in last year’s Olympics, hopes are not exactly high that Kipchoge is a realistic contender for victory. But the Kenyan legend is such a mega-celebrity in the sport that his mere presence on the course is notable, and even the 2025 version of Kipchoge can still produce a 2:05-caliber performance.

Bekele, who’s 43 years old, probably has a higher ceiling but lower floor than his rival. He hasn’t raced yet this year, but just last spring he ran 2:04:15 for a master’s world record in Paris. Even in his 40s, the Ethiopian has put together some incredible performances, but he’s also logged a lot of DNFs over the years.

For those wondering, Kipchoge has a 4-1 record against Bekele in marathons, but Bekele owns a 16-7 lifetime advantage, head-to-head. This will easily be the most high-profile master’s matchup in history, so even if neither man lands on the podium, their relative finish will be something to watch.

How The Americans Will Fare: Though a top-five finish for an American man looks like a longshot here, the squad from the U.S. lining up on Staten Island is a strong and intriguing one. Going solely off of marathon PBs, Biya Simbassa’s 2:06:53 from Valencia last December tops the list of American entrants. Since that race, Simbassa’s 2025 has been solid but unspectacular, so it’s unclear if he’s in similar form to that career-defining day in Spain.

Hillary Bor, a two-time Olympian for the U.S. in the steeplechase, is set to make his marathon debut on Sunday. He’s raced on the roads often this year, and seemingly taken well to them, if his third-place, 59:55 showing at the NYC Half is any indication.

Also making their entry into the world of marathoning are Charles Hicks and Joe Klecker. Hicks only recently became eligible to represent the U.S., after switching allegiances from Great Britain, but wasted no time in making his mark. As an at-the-time-dual-citizen, Hicks’s 45:14 win at the USATF 10 Mile Championships didn’t count as the American record but it put his new compatriots on watch.