New York City Marathon 2026: Almgren Wins in His Debut, Chepkirui Takes Her Second Title, and McClain Ends the U.S. Podium Drought

Andreas Almgren became the first Swede to win the New York City Marathon on Sunday, winning in 2:06:01 in his marathon debut, NBC Sports reported. Almgren, the 2025 World 10,000m bronze medalist, became the first Swedish runner to win any major marathon, pulling away from Italy's Yemaneberhan Crippa by 13 seconds; Kamohelo Mofolo of Lesotho was third in 2:06:26 and defending champion Benson Kipruto fourth in 2:06:27, according to Reuters' results account read this run.

In the women's race, Kenya's Sheila Chepkirui, 35, crossed the Central Park finish line in 2:24:36 to win her second title in three years, prevailing by six seconds over American Jess McClain. McClain overtook two-time New York champion Hellen Obiri of Kenya by 41 hundredths of a second in the final strides, marking the first podium for a U.S. female or male runner in New York City since Shalane Flanagan was third in her title defense in 2018, NBC Sports reported. Edna Kiplagat, the 2010 champion from Kenya, finished fourth at age 46.

The Swiss swept the wheelchair races, with Marcel Hug winning his eighth title, one second ahead of American Daniel Romanchuk, and Catherine Debrunner winning her second title by 8:25 over American Tatyana McFadden. American Susannah Scaroni, who won in 2022, 2024 and 2025, was third in her first race since having a son on Aug. 6.

New York City marked the last World Marathon Major of 2026. The men's American picture ran deeper than the podium: Zouhair Talbi was sixth in 2:06:43, a time faster than the American course record, and Conner Mantz was 11th in 2:07:27 in his first marathon since lowering the American record to 2:04:43 in Chicago in October 2025, NBC Sports reported.