Almgren Wins NYC Marathon Debut as Chepkirui Claims Women’s Title

NEW YORK CITY — New York City was filled with runners, spectators and celebrations Sunday as thousands of athletes crossed all five boroughs during the 2026 TCS New York City Marathon.

Sweden’s Andreas Almgren won the men’s race in his marathon debut, while Kenya’s Sheila Chepkirui captured the women’s title for the second time.

Almgren, a successful half-marathon runner, had never before competed at the 26.2-mile distance. He broke away from Italy’s Yemaneberhan Crippa during the final mile and finished in 2 hours, 6 minutes and 1 second. Crippa was 13 seconds back, while Lesotho’s Kamohelo Mofolo took third after narrowly beating defending champion Benson Kipruto.

Almgren’s winning time ranked as the third-fastest in the course’s 50-year history. The top seven finishers all posted times that rank among the event’s 10 fastest ever. He was also the first runner to win the marathon on his New York City debut since Ethiopia’s Gebre Gebremariam in 2010.

American Zouhair Talbi placed sixth and recorded the fastest time ever by a U.S. runner in the race.

Chepkirui, who also won in 2024, surged away from fellow Kenyan Hellen Obiri over the final 150 meters to finish in 2:24:36. American Jessica McClain passed Obiri, a two-time champion, in the closing strides to take second. McClain finished six seconds behind Chepkirui, becoming the first U.S. woman to reach the top three since 2018.

Sunday’s race marked the 50th time the marathon has traveled through all five boroughs. In 1976, the event’s seventh running drew just over 2,000 competitors, including only 88 women. This year, about 60,000 runners started the race, with women making up nearly half the field.

“I think the marathon is one of the best days in New York City, you see the humanity, everyone accomplishing these amazing goals and dreams,” said Jesse Hammerman of Staten Island.

Runners representing more than 140 countries competed Sunday, including defending men’s champion Benson Kipruto. He won last year’s race in dramatic fashion, finishing just three-hundredths of a second ahead of Alexander Mutiso.

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WABC anchors Liz Cho and Mike Marza were among the participants. They ran to raise money for the Alzheimer’s Association in honor of Bill Ritter, who left the anchor desk in June after disclosing his Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis.

The pair paid tribute to their colleague throughout the race before sharing an emotional reunion with him after finishing in Central Park.

“I feel overwhelmed, it was the most spectacular experience,” Cho said.

“Thank you for this,” Ritter said.

This year’s New York City Marathon generated more than $100 million for various charities.

“I’m just so happy I love you and we were able to do this and raise funds for the Alzheimer’s Association,” Cho said.

The New York City Marathon was first held in 1970, with its opening six editions taking place entirely inside Central Park as runners completed multiple loops. The course moved beyond the park in 1976 to mark the U.S. bicentennial and help lift a city facing difficult times. The event went on to become one of New York’s signature sporting occasions.

Eight-time winner
Marcel Hug captured the men’s wheelchair race for the eighth time, holding off Daniel Romanchuk by just over a second. Romanchuk seized the lead during the final mile as the athletes entered Central Park for the last time, but Hug overtook him in the final 100 meters to secure the victory.