Sweden's Andreas Almgren made a spectacular debut at the marathon distance, winning the New York City Marathon on Sunday with a time of 2hr 6min 1sec. The 31-year-old Almgren had been in the spotlight recently after setting a European half-marathon record in Copenhagen in September. He powered through the final mile to capture the victory over Italian Yemaneberhan Crippa. Almgren's win marked a significant achievement in his career, coming just a few months after his 10,000m gold at the European Championships.
Almgren ran comfortably in a large lead group that included defending champion Benson Kipruto. He broke away in the final mile, pulling away from Crippa who finished second in 2:06:14. Lesotho's Kamohelo Mofolo was third in 2:06:26, narrowly holding off Kenya's Kipruto. Kipruto had been trying to become the first back-to-back New York men's winner since compatriot Geoffrey Mutai in 2013. Almgren's victory made him the first Swede to win a major marathon.
In the women's race, Kenyan Sheila Chepkirui won for a second time, repelling the challenge of last year's winner Hellen Obiri. Chepkirui finished with a time of 2:24:36, edging out American Jessica McClain who took second in 2:24:42. Obiri faded to finish third behind McClain with a time of 2:24:43. This was Chepkirui's second win in New York, having also edged out Obiri in 2024.
The final mile of the women's race was intense, with Chepkirui and Obiri powering together before Chepkirui defended her place to take the win. McClain expressed her satisfaction with her podium finish, becoming the first US woman since 2018 to achieve this. The men's and women's races were part of the 50th anniversary celebrations of the current incarnation of the NYC Marathon.
The NYC Marathon has a rich history, having first been run in 1970 in Central Park before becoming a city-wide event in 1976. The current course links the city's five boroughs of Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Manhattan. The event also featured wheelchair races, with Switzerland's Catherine Debrunner and Marcel Hug claiming victories.
Debrunner crushed the field to win her second New York victory in 1:40:02, while Hug claimed his eighth New York wheelchair title in 1:28:14. Hug held off Daniel Romanchuk in a sprint finish, winning by 1.13 seconds. The New York City Marathon is one of the most prestigious marathons in the world, attracting top athletes from around the globe.
Almgren expressed his emotions after the win, saying he was overwhelmed with joy. Chepkirui also spoke about the challenging final mile, highlighting her strategy to stay patient and push hard to the finish line. The victories for Almgren and Chepkirui marked a memorable day for the New York City Marathon.
Key points
- Andreas Almgren won the New York City Marathon in a debut performance with a time of 2:06:01.
- Sheila Chepkirui won the women's race for a second time with a time of 2:24:36.
- The 2026 New York City Marathon marked the 50th anniversary of the current incarnation of the event.
