Andreas Almgren and Sheila Chepkirui Win 2026 New York City Marathon

Andreas Almgren of Sweden won the men’s race of the New York City Marathon on Sunday in his first attempt at the full distance. Sheila Chepkirui of Kenya claimed the women’s title for the second time in three years.

Almgren finished in 2 hours, 6 minutes and 1 second. He pulled away from Yemaneberhan Crippa of Italy in the final mile. Crippa took second in 2:06:14. Kamohelo Mofolo of Lesotho placed third in 2:06:26, just ahead of defending champion Benson Kipruto.

The 31-year-old Swede, the reigning world half-marathon champion, had built a successful career at shorter distances. He told broadcasters after the race that he did not know how a marathon was supposed to feel. He became the first runner to win his New York debut since Gebre Gebremariam in 2010. He is also the first European man to win the five-borough race in three decades.

Almgren’s time ranks among the fastest in the course’s 50-year history. Six men in the top ten ran under 2:07. American Zouhair Talbi finished sixth and recorded the fastest time ever by a US man in the event.

In the women’s race, Chepkirui crossed in 2:24:36. She broke away from defending champion Hellen Obiri of Kenya in the final 150 metres. Jessica McClain of the United States finished second in 2:24:42, overtaking Obiri in the closing strides. Obiri took third in 2:24:43.

McClain’s finish marked the first podium for an American woman in New York since Shalane Flanagan placed third in 2018. It also secured her an automatic qualifying mark for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. Chepkirui, 35, had previously won the race in 2024. Her time was well clear of the course record Obiri set last year.

More than 60,000 runners started the 26.2-mile course through all five boroughs. The race marked the 50th anniversary of the five-borough route. Conditions were clear and cool. Crowds lined the streets from Staten Island to the finish in Central Park.

Almgren received a Swedish flag after the line and said the marathon thing is quite fun. Chepkirui raised both fists as she crossed. The results continue Kenyan dominance in the women’s race while opening a new chapter for European men in New York.

Prize money for the winners is $100,000 each. The next major marathon on the World Athletics calendar is Berlin in September. Almgren said he plans to run another marathon. McClain now prepares for the Olympic cycle with a New York podium already secured.