Spectacular United Airlines NYC Half Returns to Streets of New York City
Nearly two years from the week a global pandemic forever changed our lives, we finally completed the #UnitedNYCHalf. New York City is back! 💪 (but did we ever leave?!) 🤗🗽
— New York Road Runners (@nyrr) March 20, 2022
Thank you to the runners, the #NYRRVols who made it possible, and all who cheered on every runner today. pic.twitter.com/K7fjCmJo8g
Winners Manuela Schär, Daniel Romanchuk, Senbere Teferi, Rhonex Kipruto led the field while nearly 1,000 youth ages 8–18 took part in the 1500-meter Times Square Kids Run at the United Airlines NYC Half. Most were members of Rising New York Road Runners, NYRR’s free youth fitness program.
The Virtual United Airlines NYC Half saw thousands of runners around the world complete their 13.1 miles from March 12 to March 20.
Romanchuk, who defended his 2019 title, summed up the spirit of race day: “I’m really happy to be back in New York racing and see the city so alive.”
In 2020, the United Airlines was scheduled to take place on March 15 but was canceled due to the onset of the pandemic. This year’s event was the first NYRR race back at full scale.
“We are excited to have a full race field again as our runners take over the streets of Brooklyn and the heart of Manhattan,” said Ted Metellus, NYRR VP of Events and Race Director.
The course takes runners from Prospect Park in Brooklyn to Manhattan’s Central Park, passing historic landmarks and diverse neighborhoods and taking in sweeping views before ending near the TCS New York City Marathon finish line.
When we say that @SenbereTeferi and Irene Cheptai ran together for most of the #UnitedNYCHalf race course, we really mean they ran TOGETHER. pic.twitter.com/znJcTMR9Pb
— New York Road Runners (@nyrr) March 20, 2022
Among the finishers were TV personalities Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes, former NFL player Tiki Barber, reality TV star Nev Schulman, sportscaster Nicole Briscoe, motorsports racing driver Ryan Briscoe, former Miss Universe Andrea Meza, New York City Fire Department Acting Commissioner Laura Kavanaugh, and New York City Parks Commissioner Susan Donoghue.
A Tri-Hero Challenge honored New York City police and fire departments and other frontline workers and first responders.
This year marked the 15th NYC Half, which began in 2006 as a Manhattan-only summer race, moved to the spring in 2010, and adopted a Brooklyn-to-Manhattan course in 2018.