Daniel Romanchuk ended Marcel Hug’s three-year reign as the New York Marathon men’s wheelchair champion by winning the race on Sunday. Hug, also known as the Silver Bullet, had previously won 16 straight marathons, including a gold medal at the Paris Paralympics earlier this year and the Chicago Marathon a few weeks ago. In the women’s wheelchair race, American Susannah Scaroni emerged victorious, marking her second win at the New York Marathon. This historic race saw both the men’s and women’s wheelchair events being won by Americans for the first time ever.
Marcel Hug made history last year by becoming the first para-racer to win the Abbott World Marathon Majors series title after coming first in all six marathons – Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago, and New York. Despite his achievements, the 38-year-old Hug fell behind in the lead pack during Sunday’s race due to issues caused by a pothole on First Ave. The race then turned into a three-man battle between Romanchuk, David Weir, and Tomoki Suzuki, with Romanchuk pulling away in the last mile to clinch victory in 1 hour, 36 minutes, and 31 seconds. Romanchuk also won the New York Marathon in 2018 and 2019.
David Weir, who was the runner-up in 2021 and the winner in 2010, finished 5 seconds behind Romanchuk to take second place. Tomoki Suzuki came in third with a time of 1:36.43, while Marcel Hug finished fourth, over 3 minutes behind the winner. In the women’s wheelchair race, Scaroni dominated by defeating fellow American Tatyana McFadden by more than 10 minutes to finish in 1 hour, 48 minutes, and 5 seconds. Scaroni expressed her joy at being in New York City and credited feeling great on race day as a contributing factor to her success.
For Romanchuk, winning the New York Marathon was a testament to his hard work and dedication to the sport. He highlighted the importance of knowing his competitors well and pushing himself to the limit in the final mile. Romanchuk’s victory marked his third win at the prestigious marathon and solidified his status as a top wheelchair racer. Despite falling short of the win, Hug’s fourth-place finish was a reminder of his talent and resilience in the face of tough competition. Scaroni’s victory in the women’s wheelchair race showcased her strength and determination, as well as her ability to overcome challenges to emerge victorious in one of the toughest races in the world.
The New York Marathon brought together top wheelchair racers from around the world to compete in a historic event that saw American athletes dominate both the men’s and women’s wheelchair races. The race was filled with excitement and competitive spirit as athletes pushed themselves to their limits to achieve victory. The triumph of Romanchuk and Scaroni, along with the outstanding performances of Weir, Suzuki, and Hug, demonstrated the incredible skill and determination of wheelchair racers at the highest level of competition. The New York Marathon continues to be a platform for showcasing the talents of para-athletes and pushing the boundaries of achievement in the world of wheelchair racing.
