Sweden's Andreas Almgren wins New York City Marathon on debut
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The gist
Swedish runner Andreas Almgren won the New York City Marathon in 2:06:01 in his marathon debut.
Kenya's Sheila Chepkirui won the women's race as 60,000-plus ran the 55th edition.
Background
Andreas Almgren is a Swedish runner, the 2025 World 10,000m bronze medalist and World Half Marathon champion, who was set to make his marathon debut in New York. The 2026 race was the 55th edition and marked the 50th anniversary of the decision to move the marathon to all five boroughs; the first five-borough race was run on Oct. 24, 1976, with 2,090 participants. The professional field was one of the deepest ever, with 40 Olympians and Paralympians, 25 Olympic, Paralympic and World Championship medalists, and 22 national record holders, per NYRR (New York Road Runners, the race organizer).
How it unfolded
- Nov 2, 2025Hellen Obiri won the women's race in 2:19:51, breaking the women's course record, while Benson Kipruto beat Alexander Mutiso by three-hundredths of a second, the narrowest margin ever.
- Aug 22, 2026World Athletics reported that Obiri and Kipruto would defend their titles and that Almgren was set to make his marathon debut.
- Sep 22, 2026The course was changed for the first time in 15 years, with minor adjustments to the Bronx section, as NYRR marked the race's 50th anniversary.
- Oct 13, 2026NYRR announced a professional field with 3 defending champions, 40 Olympians and Paralympians, 25 Olympic, Paralympic and World Championship medalists, and 22 national record holders.
- Oct 28, 2026The ceremonial blue line was painted at the finish line in New York.
- Nov 1, 2026More than 60,000 entrants set out on the 26.2-mile course through the five boroughs, from Staten Island to Central Park, with wheelchair divisions starting around 8 a.m. ET and five waves following between about 9 and 11:30 a.m.
- Nov 1, 2026Almgren won the men's race in 2:06:01, 13 seconds ahead of Italy's Yemaneberhan Crippa, and Sheila Chepkirui of Kenya won the women's race in 2:24:36, six seconds ahead of American Jess McClain.
- Nov 1, 2026Marcel Hug of Switzerland won the men's wheelchair race for the eighth time, one second ahead of American Daniel Romanchuk, and Catherine Debrunner of Switzerland won the women's wheelchair race by 8:25 over American Tatyana McFadden.
Who’s saying what
- Official
- NYRR CEO Rob Simmelkjaer said celebrity runners join 60,000 runners to soak in the cheers and energy that only New York City can deliver, while raising money for causes.
- Weather
- National Weather Service meteorologist Bryan Ramsey called it a pretty good day for the race and as seasonal as it gets.
- Defending champ
- Defending men's champion Benson Kipruto said the competition would be particularly strong and he was eager to defend his title on one of the sport's biggest stages.