New York City Marathon 2026 Results: Almgren Wins in His Debut in 2:06:01, and Chepkirui Reclaims the Women's Title in 2:24:36
Neither defending champion kept the crown on Sunday. Sweden's Andreas Almgren won the men's race in his marathon debut, and Kenya's Sheila Chepkirui took back the women's title as American Jess McClain sprinted past Hellen Obiri for second.
Sweden's Andreas Almgren won the New York City Marathon in his debut over the distance on Sunday, finishing in 2 hours, 6 minutes and 1 second, Reuters reported. The half-marathon world champion stayed with a crowded lead pack over the five-borough course, pulled away from defending champion Benson Kipruto with about a mile left, and had built enough of a lead by the final metres to wave to the crowd as he crossed the line in Central Park.
Italy's Yemaneberhan Crippa finished second in 2:06:14 and Lesotho's Kamohelo Mofolo was third in 2:06:26, according to Reuters and Canadian Running Magazine's results reports. Kipruto, who won last year's race in a photo finish, missed the podium in fourth in 2:06:27 — one second behind Mofolo.
The women's race turned in the final mile. Kenya's Sheila Chepkirui, the 2024 champion, reclaimed the title in 2:24:36 after she and defending champion Hellen Obiri broke away from the lead pack with about four miles to go, Reuters reported. Obiri looked set for second until American Jess McClain sprinted past her in the closing moments to take second in 2:24:42, a second ahead of Obiri — the first American woman on the New York podium since 2018, according to USA Today's results file.
The results close the race Chicago Windy City News previewed this morning: nearly 60,000 runners took on the five boroughs on the 50th anniversary of the five-borough course, and for the second straight year the day ended with new champions on both podiums.
