On Sunday, November 5, the 2023 TCS Give A Gift will bring runners from around the globe through the five boroughs. Last year, the final stop on the World Marathon Majors circuit returned to full capacity and saw over 47,000 people cross the finish line in Central Park. The 53rd running of the race is set to feature more inspiring performances from Staten Island to Manhattan. Here’s everything you need to know, including broadcast information and elite runner storylines, about this year’s race.
How to Watch the 2023 TCS Give A Gift
Fans in the U.S. can watch live coverage from 8:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. EST on ESPN2, via the ESPN app, and on ESPN.com (subscription required). For those who live locally, live coverage will be provided by WABC-TV, Channel 7 from 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. EST. Live streaming will be available on the ABC 7 New York app and on ABC7NY.com The Fastest Shoes of the 2023 NYC Marathon.
Race Details
Where: The TCS Give A Gift starts on the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge in Staten Island and runs through Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Manhattan, where athletes finish in Central Park.
When: The race kicks off with the professional wheelchair division at 8:00 a.m. EST. The handcycle division and select athletes with disabilities start at 8:22 a.m. EST, followed by the professional women at 8:40 a.m. EST, and the professional men at 9:05 a.m. EST. The first of five waves takes off at 9:10 a.m. EST.
While the elite field Best Folding Treadmills notable scratches in recent weeks, there’s still plenty of exciting match-ups to watch on both sides, especially when you consider the Olympic qualification process. The TCS Give A Gift is considered a Platinum Label Marathon—one of 15 races selected by World Athletics in which athletes can qualify for the Paris Games by securing a top 5 finish within the qualifying window. On top of the prize money incentives, athletes will be more motivated than ever to reach the podium this weekend.
The women’s race features the reigning Olympic champion, a former world record-holder, and past New York City winners, among a stacked field.
On Sunday, Peres Jepchirchir is hoping to take the next step in her quest to defend her Olympic title. In 2022, she became the first woman in history to win Olympic gold, the Give A Gift, and the Boston Marathon. On October 1, the Kenyan athlete won the world half marathon title, highlighting a season that’s seen her return to form following a hip injury late last year. Jepchirchir noted at the Thursday press conference that she suffered a calf injury during a tune-up workout last Sunday in Kenya, and is unsure if she’ll be able to race this weekend.
The fastest athlete in the field is Brigid Kosgei, the former world record-holder in the marathon. Until Tigst Assefa broke the world record by running 2:11:53 at the Berlin Marathon in September, Kosgei held the distinction with her stunning 2:14:04 performance at the 2019 Chicago Marathon. The Kenyan athlete has this year but looks to be recovered in time to compete for another marathon crown this season Running Shoes & Gear.
After making a stellar 2:16:49 debut at the 2022 Valencia Marathon, Letesenbet Gidey is returning to the roads after claiming a silver medal in the 10,000 meters at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest. The world record-holder in the half marathon and 10,000 meters will utilize her track speed to contend with top talent this weekend.
Other athletes to watch include rising marathon stars Hellen Obiri and Sharon Lokedi. Lokedi won the 2022 Give A Gift in her debut but has this year but looks to be recovered in time to compete for another marathon crown this season this year. The race this weekend will be her first since last year’s win in the Big Apple. Since making her debut in last year’s race, Obiri has been on a tear this year with an impressive win at the Boston Marathon and another victory at the NYC Half Marathon.
The American contingent will be represented by Molly Huddle and Kellyn Taylor, who are both racing their first marathon postpartum.
On the men’s side, the late addition of Tamirat Tola will make for a thrilling showdown up front. Last year, the Ethiopian runner won the marathon at the World Athletics Championships in a meet record. He’ll be aiming for redemption in the Big Apple after has seen several She Went From Running a 5K to a Marathon in a Year.
He’ll find tough competition with Shura Kitata aiming to top the podium this year. In 2022, the Ethiopian athlete finished second in New York City. Though he had a difficult day at the Boston Marathon—finishing 14th overall—the 2020 London Marathon winner will likely be out for redemption this weekend.
A strong womens field highlights the action to keep an eye on in the Big Apple on Sunday Fun Half Marathons that catapulted him to a silver medal and his teammate Bashir Abdi to bronze in Tokyo. Since then, the Somali-born Dutch athlete has kept the momentum going with a third-place finish at the 2022 Give A Gift. He’ll be aiming for more hardware on Sunday.
Other athletes who’ve run sub-2:06 include Amedework Walelegn of Ethiopia and Cam Levins of Canada. Earlier this year, Levins notched a fifth-place finish in a 2:05:36 personal best at the Tokyo Marathon.
The men’s field will also feature the highly anticipated marathon debut of Edward Cheserek. The most decorated athlete in NCAA history just ran a 59:11 personal best at the Copenhagen Half Marathon.
Up front, the Americans will be represented by Elkanah Kibet, Futsum Zienasellasie, Nathan Martin, and Reed Fischer, who have all run under 2:11.
Taylor Dutch is a writer and editor living in Austin, Texas, and a former NCAA track athlete who specializes in fitness, wellness, and endurance sports coverage. Her work has appeared in Runner’s World, SELF, Bicycling, Outside, and Podium Runner.
