In thrilling finishes, Andreas Almgren of Sweden and Kenyan Sheila Chepkirui beat out a record number of competitors in a field that included 40 Olympians and Paralympians, 25 Olympic, Paralympic and World Championship medalists, and 22 national record holders, to take the top spots in Sunday’s 2026 TCS NYC Marathon.
Sunday’s race was Almgren’s first marathon ever. Prior to his marathon debut in NYC, Almgren was a successful half-marathoner and the 2026 World Half Marathon Champion. He proved his prowess over 26.2 miles by pulling away from Yemaneberhan Crippa of Italy in the final mile to win in 2:06:01, the third-fastest time in the course’s 50-year history.
Crippa was next at 2:06:14, 13 seconds behind Almgren. Kamohelo Mofolo of Lesotho was third (2:06:26), edging out defending champion Benson Kipruto (2:06:27). The American men’s NYC Marathon victory drought continues since Meb Keflezighi’s win in 2009.
Kenyan women continued to dominate the NYC Marathon with Sheila Chepkirui taking
first place in 2:24.36. This was Chepkirui’s second win at the NYC Marathon after her victory in 2024. She held off last year’s champion and 2023 winner, fellow Kenyan Hellen Obiri in the final mile.
In a sprint for second, American Jessica McClain passed Obiri in the last 30 meters to finish in 2:24:42, six seconds behind Chepkirui. It was the first time a U.S. woman finished in the top three since 2018. Obiri finished third at 2:24:43.
Switzerland’s Marcel Hug and Catherine Debrunner took the wheelchair races. Hug, nicknamed “The Silver Bullet,” lived up to his name in Sunday’s race by overtaking American Daniel Romanchuk in the final 100 meters of the men’s race to win in 1:28:14.
David Weir of Great Britain finished third in 1:35:38. Hug’s win Sunday added another victory to his growing list of first-place finishes. He won in 2013, 2016, 2017, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2025.
Catherine Debrunner outpaced the field to take first place in the women’s race. Debrunner, who was the 2023 champion in her NYC Marathon debut — setting the course record of 1:39:32 — crossed the tape this year more than eight minutes ahead of her second-place competitor, American Tatyana McFadden (1:48:28), a five-time winner of the NYC Marathon. American Susannah Scaroni, a three-time champion and last year’s winner, finished third in 1:48:32.
Sunday was the 50th anniversary of the five-borough course. Pioneering Black leaders
Ted Corbitt and Percy Sutton were two pivotal figures in the history of the NYC five-
borough marathon, helping to transform the marathon from a small race in Central Park
to today’s internationally famous event.
Corbitt, a.k.a. “The Father of Long-Distance Running in America,” a groundbreaking Black distance runner, co-founder and inaugural president of New York Road Runners (NYRR), is credited with initiating the five-borough concept. Sutton, a prominent civil rights attorney, businessman, politician and Manhattan borough president in 1976, was instrumental in turning Corbitt’s vision into reality.
The first five-borough race took place Oct. 24, 1976, with just 2,090 runners — 2,002 men and 88 women. On Sunday, a record 61,529 runners took part, including 28,942 women, nearly half the field.
