Wilson Kipsang to Race TCS New York City Marathon After Dropping Out in Berlin

By Adam Kopet

TCS New York City Marathon organizers announced Tuesday that former world record holder Wilson Kipsang of Kenya has been added to the elite field for the Nov. 5 race.

Kipsang won in New York in 2014, the same year he won the World Marathon Majors title. He returns to New York after dropping out of the BMW Berlin Marathon at the 30-kilometer mark.

Kipsang, now 35, set the world record in the marathon in 2013 in Berlin, running 2:03:23. His record only lasted one year, but he improved his personal best to 2:03:13 in the 2016 Berlin Marathon.

This year's Berlin Marathon was advertised as a world record attempt involving Eliud Kipchoge, Kipsang and Kenenisa Bekele, but the rain during the race caused problems. Kipsang dropped out at the 30-kilometer mark and appeared to clutch his stomach afterward. Bekele also dropped out. Kipchoge won in 2:03:32.

Race organizers have also added Bronx resident and two-time runner-up Buzunesh Deba of Ethiopia to the women's elite field. Deba finished second in the 2011 and 2013 editions of the race. She also set the course record at the 2014 Boston Marathon with a time of 2:19:58.