Elite Fields Announced for United Airlines NYC Half Marathon

By Adam Kopet

Race organizers for the United Airlines NYC Half announced the elite fields Tuesday for the March 18 edition of the race in a press release.

Emily Sisson leads a strong American contingent in the women's race. She finished runner-up in 2017, setting an American debut record of 1:08:21. Other top Americans in the women's race include Aliphine Tuliamuk, Serena Burla, Desiree Linden and Allie Kieffer.

Mamitu Daska of Ethiopia has the fastest personal best in the field at 1:06:28. Buze Diriba, also of Ethiopia, has run 1:06:50. They are the only two women in the field with sub-1:07:00 bests.

The men's race is led by 2016 winner Stephan Sambu. The Kenyan also had top three finishes in 2014 and 2015.

However, Wilson Chebet of Kenya has the fastest personal best in the field, standing at 59:15, the only athlete in the race to have run under an hour for the half marathon.

The American contingent includes Dathan Ritzenhein, Abdi Abdirahman, Shadrack Biwott, Chris Derrick, Haron Lagat, Tim Ritchie and Ben True. True is making his half marathon debut.

Click here for a complete list of elite athletes taking part in this year's event.