Jorgensen, winner of the United States’ first-ever Olympic triathlon gold medal at Rio 2016, finished third at last month’s USA Track and Field 10-Mile Championships in Saint Paul in Minnesota.

Her time of 53min 13sec, about 5:19 pace per mile, provided an insight into her potential in the marathon, a distance at which she will make her bow in the Big Apple.  

"I have zero expectations and that is awesome," she told Competitor.com.

"Usually I have goals and know what I want to accomplish, but the marathon is different.

"It is strictly for fun and without expectations or goals."

Two-time US Olympians Kim Conley and Molly Huddle, who set a North American 10,000 metres record to finish sixth at Rio 2016, will also be making their marathon debuts in a race which could see Keitany complete a hat-trick of victories - a feat not achieved since Norway’s Grete Waitz, winner of five consecutive titles between 1982 and 1986. 

Keitany, the second-fastest woman in history with a time of 2 hours 18min 37sec in London in 2012, claimed she is fully focused on winning in New York City after being overlooked for selection at Rio 2016.

Her record and personal best make her the favourite - even more so since the withdrawal of the injured team-mate Gladys Cherono - but she did finish ninth in London earlier this year.

"I’ve been training well," Keitany said.

"I’m ready to come to New York and defend my title."

Ethiopia’s Aselefech Mergia, a bronze medallist at the 2009 World Championships, was second behind Keitany in last year’s race and the 31-year-old’s personal best of 2:19:31 suggests she should figure at the front. 

Mergia is a three-time Dubai Marathon winner, yet her sole Marathon Major win came in London in 2010 following the retrospective disqualification of the first two finishers.

Also likely to be in contention is Kenya’s Sally Kipyego, despite failing to finish on her marathon debut in New York City last year. 

Following a successful career as a collegiate athlete out of Texas Tech University, she won silver medals over 10,000m at the 2011 World Championships and the London 2012 Olympics.

In the men’s race, Kenya’s Stanley Biwott will be looking to defend the crown he won last year with a time of 2:10:34.

The 30-year-old will be competing in New York City for the third time, having also finished fifth on his debut in 2013.

Earlier this year, he became the seventh-fastest marathon runner of all time after clocking 2:03:51 to finish second at London.

Biwott’s most recent outing was less successful, however, as he dropped out of the Rio 2016 race in the latter stages. 

"Last year it was my first race win in the big ones [Marathon Majors]," he said.

"It has taken me to another level.

"Since I won in New York last year I have improved so much."

Should Biwott falter tomorrow, the best Kenyan hope could be Lucas Rotich, who will make his New York City Marathon debut at the age of 26 having won the UAE Healthy Heart 10k in the same city in May.

Eritrean debutante Ghimray Ghebreslassie is also likely to be a major threat with the 20-year-old having finished fourth at Rio 2016.

He won the gold medal at the 2015 World Championships and was fourth in London this year in a personal best time of 2:07:46.

Another runner who is expected to figure Ethiopia’s Lelisa Desisa, the two-time Boston Marathon winner, who finished third in New York City last year and was runner-up in 2014.

The last time both the men's and women's winners retained their titles at the New York City Marathon was in 1995 when Mexico’s Germán Silva and Kenya's Tegla Loroupe successfully defended their crowns.

If Biwott and Keitany can do likewise, they will secure a fourth consecutive Kenyan sweep of the men’s and women’s titles.