New York Road Runners (NYRR), the non-profit organisation that produces the TCS New York City Marathon and over 60 other annual running events, has announced its slate of award recipients and Hall of Fame inductees for 2025.
The honourees will be celebrated throughout the week leading up to the 2025 TCS New York City Marathon, which takes place on Sunday, November 2, 2025.
NYRR Hall of Fame and Major Awards
The highest honours will be presented during the TCS New York City Marathon Opening Ceremony Presented by United Airlines:
- NYRR Hall of Fame Inductees: Olympian Jenny Simpson and youth running pioneer Barry Geisler will be inducted.
- Abebe Bikila Award: Celebrated South African long-distance runner Willie Mtolo will receive the award, which honours an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the sport.
Rob Simmelkjaer, Chief Executive Officer of New York Road Runners, said “We are excited to honour these incredible award-winners and Hall of Fame inductees in the leadup to the 2025 TCS New York City Marathon.
“Each of this year’s honourees has made tremendous contributions to the sport – these are people that truly embody the transformative power of running.”
NYRR Hall of Fame Inductees
The 2025 inductees represent both the history of running in New York and recent athletic excellence:
- Barry Geisler: An early member and former President of NYRR, Geisler is recognised for starting the organisation’s youth programmes in 1966. His inclusive efforts laid the foundation for the non-profit’s current free, large-scale youth running initiatives, which now include the Rising New York Road Runners programme.
- Jenny Simpson: A three-time Olympian and 2016 1,500m bronze medallist, Simpson is an eight-time winner of the Fifth Avenue Mile. She previously served as a Rising New York Road Runners Ambassador and Special Advisor, and recently announced her retirement after competing in the United Airlines NYC Half and TCS New York City Marathon in 2024.
Abebe Bikila Award
Willie Mtolo is being honoured for his impactful career, which includes becoming the first South African to win the New York City Marathon in 1992, shortly after the end of apartheid.
The victory, achieved in his debut international marathon, marked the end of the international sports boycott and served as a powerful symbol for South African sport, opening doors for other athletes to compete globally. Barred for years from international competition, Mtolo also organised charity runs for peace in South Africa.
Legacy Awards and Night of Champions
Two individuals will receive Legacy Awards at the NYRR Night of Champions benefit on October 30, which supports NYRR’s community programmes:
- Peter Kirk: The Chief Executive Officer of Sermo, Kirk is a cancer survivor who ran the 2021 TCS New York City Marathon just three months after a blood stem cell transplant. He is being honoured for his commitment and support of the non-profit’s mission.
- Alan Patricof: An 88-year-old venture capitalist, he ran the very first New York City Marathon in 1970 and was the oldest finisher of the 2022 event.
- Patina Miller, a Grammy and Tony Award–winning actor, will be celebrated as a special guest at the event. Miller is a 2023 TCS New York City Marathon finisher and a supporter of the Team for Kids and NYRR Run for the Future programmes.
George Hirsch Journalism Award
The George Hirsch Journalism Award, which recognises excellence in reporting on long-distance running, will be presented to veteran running writer and commentator Roger Robinson.
Robinson’s career spans over four decades, during which he served as a commentator, race announcer, and journalist for publications including Running Times and Runner’s World. His work, including his books When Running Made History and Running Throughout Time, is known for its exploration of running’s cultural significance and history.
