Reigning Champions Mutai, Dado To Defend Crowns At NYC Marathon

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) — Geoffrey Mutai and Firehiwot Dado will defend their New York City Marathon titles, two years after the race was last held.

Mutai and Dado won in 2011, then last year's event was canceled because of Superstorm Sandy.

Organizers announced Thursday that Mutai's competition in the men's race Nov. 3 will include reigning world and Olympic champion Stephen Kiprotich of Uganda.

Mutai set the course record at the 2011 NYC Marathon. The Kenyan also ran the fastest marathon ever in 2 hours, 3 minutes, 2 seconds in Boston earlier that year. That time doesn't count as a world record because of the route setup.

Dado's rivals in the women's race will include two Kenyan stars: two-time world champ Edna Kiplagat and Olympic silver medalist Priscah Jeptoo. The Ethiopian won her first major marathon title in New York two years ago.

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