The New York City Marathon took place on Sunday, featuring a debutant winner and a repeat champion. Andreas Almgren of Sweden won the men's race in his first marathon attempt, finishing in two hours, six minutes, and one second. Almgren, 31, had not competed at the 26.2-mile distance before this but was an accomplished athlete at other distances, with achievements including gold medals in the 10,000 meters at the European Championships and the half marathon at the World Road Running Championships.
Almgren's victory was a remarkable debut, with the Swedish athlete expressing his joy and surprise at the outcome. He had previously taken home bronze in the 10,000 meters at last year's World Championships. In the men's race, Yemaneberhan Crippa of Italy placed second, Kamohelo Mofolo of Lesotho was third, and Benson Kipruto of Kenya, the reigning men's champion, settled for fourth.
On the women's side, Sheila Chepkirui of Kenya captured the title, finishing in two hours, 24 minutes, and 36 seconds, exactly one second off her winning time in 2024. Chepkirui had previously won in New York in 2024 and placed third in 2025 with a superior time of 2:20:24. She fended off her countrywoman Hellen Obiri over the last mile, with Jessica McClain of the U.S. also passing Obiri right at the finish line for second.
The women's wheelchair title was won by Catherine Debrunner of Switzerland in 1:40:02, finishing only 30 seconds off of the course record she set while winning in 2023. Marcel Hug of Switzerland won the men's wheelchair race in 1:28:14. Chepkirui attributed her win to her patience and strategy, stating that the last mile was "really tricky" and that she had to push hard to cross the finish line.
Almgren's achievement was hailed as one of the best debuts in marathon history, with the athlete himself describing the experience as "quite fun." His win marked a significant milestone in his career, as he transitioned from competing in shorter distances to the marathon. Chepkirui's repeat victory solidified her position as a top contender in the women's marathon.
The New York City Marathon is one of the most prestigious marathons in the world, attracting top athletes from around the globe. This year's event featured a strong field of competitors, with several notable performances from athletes from various countries. The marathon took place on a sunny Sunday, with thousands of spectators cheering on the runners along the course.
The victory for Almgren and Chepkirui marked a successful conclusion to the 2026 New York City Marathon. Both athletes expressed their gratitude and elation at their wins, with Almgren looking forward to future marathon competitions. As for Chepkirui, her win marked a successful defense of her title, and she looked forward to future challenges.
Key points
- Andreas Almgren of Sweden won the men's New York City Marathon title in his debut, finishing in 2:06:01.
- Sheila Chepkirui of Kenya won the women's title, finishing in 2:24:36, one second off her 2024 winning time.
- Marcel Hug of Switzerland won the men's wheelchair race in 1:28:14, while Catherine Debrunner of Switzerland won the women's wheelchair title in 1:40:02.
