Almgren wins NYC Marathon debut; Chepkirui takes 2nd title

As of 7:41 a.m. ET, Monday, Nov. 2, 2026

Andreas Almgren of Sweden won the New York City Marathon in his debut at the distance on Sunday, and Kenya's Sheila Chepkirui won the women's race for the second time in three years.

Almgren pulled away from Italy's Yemaneberhan Crippa in the final mile to win in 2 hours, 6 minutes, 1 second, according to The Associated Press. He was the first man to win the open division in his marathon debut since Gebre Gebremariam in 2010, and the first Swede to win any division of the race, race organizer New York Road Runners said.

"This is my first marathon. I don't really know how it's supposed to feel," Almgren said after the race, according to NYRR. "Then with 5K left, I started feeling [that it was] pretty easy to respond to the moves. So somewhere around there, I felt like, [it] might be my day, actually."

Crippa finished second in 2:06:14 and Kamohelo Mofolo of Lesotho was third in 2:06:26, edging defending champion Benson Kipruto of Kenya, according to results published by World Athletics. NYRR said Mofolo, who turned 21 on race day, became the first athlete from his country to finish on the podium. AP said Almgren's time was the third fastest in the course's history.

American Zouhair Talbi was sixth in 2:06:43, the fastest time ever by a U.S. man in New York, AP reported.

Chepkirui wins sprint finish

Chepkirui, who also won in 2024, pulled away from defending champion Hellen Obiri in the final 150 meters to win in 2:24:36, AP reported.

"The last mile was really tricky," Chepkirui said, according to AP. "I had to be patient because I knew Hellen was really strong, so I had to really push up to the finish line."

American Jess McClain came from behind to finish second in 2:24:42, passing Obiri in the final strides; Obiri, who set the course record last year, was third in 2:24:43, according to World Athletics results. It was the first time an American woman reached the open-division podium in New York since Shalane Flanagan placed third in 2018, NYRR said.

Swiss sweep in wheelchair races

Marcel Hug of Switzerland won the men's wheelchair race for a record eighth time in 1:28:14, beating American Daniel Romanchuk by one second, NYRR said. Hug's countrywoman Catherine Debrunner won the women's wheelchair race in 1:40:02, nearly eight and a half minutes ahead of American Tatyana McFadden, according to NYRR.

NYRR said nearly 60,000 athletes took part in the race, which this year marked the 50th anniversary of the five-borough course first run in 1976. Official finisher numbers are due Monday, the organizer said.