Sifan Hassan and Fiona O'Keeffe out of New York
Illness for Hassan, a proximal hamstring repair for O'Keeffe, and the women's field loses two of its biggest names before race day.
Sifan Hassan has withdrawn from the TCS New York City Marathon, and David Monti says Fiona O'Keeffe is out as well.
Monti posted that both women are off the start list. He says Hassan had an illness that disrupted her training, and that O'Keeffe had surgery, a proximal hamstring repair.
Hassan confirmed her own withdrawal in a post. She wrote that she was excited to come back stronger, that a sickness slowed her training, and that she is not where she wanted to be. She signed off wishing everyone an amazing race in New York.
What it means for the women's race
Two withdrawals, two very different reasons, and the same result for the field. The women's race in New York loses its most decorated name and one of the most talked about Americans in the build to the start line.
O'Keeffe's absence is not a surprise if you have been following her autumn. We covered the surgery when the news came, and Monti's post is the confirmation that the New York plan is formally off.
Hassan's is the newer piece. There was no public sign before her post that her build had gone sideways, and she has not said anything about what comes next, only that this time is not the time. An illness in a marathon block is the sort of thing that can cost a few weeks of work, and Hassan's own framing is that she is not where she wanted to be rather than that she is hurt.
What we do not know yet
Neither Monti nor Hassan gave a timeline, a replacement plan, or anything about a return date. Hassan has not named a next race. O'Keeffe's recovery window has not been laid out in these posts either.
So treat the rest as open. The organisers have not announced any changes to the field around the two withdrawals, and nothing in the posts suggests anyone is being added. What is confirmed is narrow and clear. Hassan is out with an illness that hurt her training, O'Keeffe is out after a proximal hamstring repair, and the women's race in New York will be run without either of them.
I was so excited to come back stronger, but a sickness slowed down my training and I’m not where I wanted to be.
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