World Marathon Majors: Sawe Watches as New York Marathon Could Decide Title

Kenya’s marathon sensation Sebastian Sawe will miss the 2025 New York Marathon on November 2 but will be closely monitoring the race as the World Marathon Majors title hangs in the balance. Having triumphed in both the London and Berlin marathons this year, Sawe currently tops the men’s series standings with 50 points. However, his lead faces a stern challenge from Tanzania’s Alphonce Simbu and Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo, who are tied on 41 points following Kiplimo’s victory in Chicago earlier this month.

All eyes will be on Simbu in New York, the reigning world champion, who is expected to deliver a strong performance. A top-two finish for the Tanzanian could see him leapfrog Sawe to claim the $50,000 (Ksh6.4 million) series prize, while a third-place finish would tie him with Sawe at 50 points, invoking tiebreak rules to determine the ultimate winner.

In the women’s series, Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa leads with 41 points, closely pursued by Dutch star Sifan Hassan on 34 points. Kenyan runners Sharon Lokedi and Hellen Obiri are also in contention, holding 25 and 16 points respectively, and both will toe the line in New York alongside Hassan. Their participation puts Assefa’s lead under significant pressure, making the Big Apple showdown pivotal in deciding the women’s series champion.

The World Marathon Majors, considered the pinnacle of long-distance road racing, rewards consistency across seven premier events: Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago, Sydney, and New York. Athletes accumulate points based on their finishing positions in these races, with the highest scorers earning both prestige and a substantial cash prize at the end of the season.

Sawe’s absence from New York adds drama to the conclusion of the 2025 series. While he has built a formidable lead with his victories in Europe, the performances of Simbu, Kiplimo, and the women’s contenders in New York could reshape the final standings. Fans and analysts alike will be glued to the race, anticipating a thrilling finale to one of the world’s most competitive marathon circuits.