Sheila Chepkirui and Andreas Almgren Win New York City Marathon

Sheila Chepkirui of Kenya won the women’s race of the New York City Marathon on November 1, 2026, her second victory in three years. Andreas Almgren of Sweden won the men’s race in his first appearance at the distance. Both races produced close finishes on the 26.2-mile course through the five boroughs.

Chepkirui defended a front-running position through the later stages and held off challengers in the final miles. Almgren broke away in the last mile to secure the men’s title. Official times and exact margins were released by race organisers after the finish. The event drew the usual large field of elite and recreational runners under cool autumn conditions.

The New York City Marathon is one of the six World Marathon Majors. It starts on Staten Island and finishes in Central Park in Manhattan. Chepkirui’s repeat win adds to her record at the event. Almgren’s debut victory places him among the small number of runners who have won a major marathon on their first attempt at the distance.

Kenyan women have dominated the New York women’s race in recent editions. Chepkirui’s second title in three years continues that pattern. Swedish runners have appeared less frequently on the podium of the major marathons. Almgren’s win is therefore notable for both the athlete and his national federation.

Course records and personal bests were not the focus of the immediate reports. The emphasis remained on the tactical racing and the final-mile moves by both winners. Television coverage and on-course cameras captured the decisive breaks. Prize money and ranking points from the World Marathon Majors series will be awarded according to the official results.

The race took place on the same weekend as several other major news events, including a private jet crash in Florida and political campaigning ahead of the US midterms. Marathon organisers reported no major disruptions. Medical teams treated the usual number of finish-line cases. Crowd support remained strong along the route.

Chepkirui and Almgren will now decide their next races. The World Marathon Majors calendar continues with events in Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin and Chicago. Their New York results improve their standing in the series rankings. Full results lists, including age-group winners and charity runners, were published by the New York Road Runners after the race.