Andreas Almgren wins NYC Marathon on debut; Chepkirui takes women's title

Sweden's Andreas Almgren won the New York City Marathon on Sunday, 1 November 2026, in his first ever marathon, finishing in 2 hours 6 minutes and 1 second. Kenya's Sheila Chepkirui won the women's race in 2:24:36 for her second New York title, holding off American Jessica McClain, who was second. In the wheelchair races, Marcel Hug won the men's title for the eighth time and Catherine Debrunner won the women's race. The race marked 50 years of the course that runs through all five boroughs of New York.

Winning a big-city marathon at the first attempt is rare. Most runners need several races at the distance to learn how to pace 42.195 km, when to eat and drink, and how to respond when the leaders surge. Almgren stayed in the leading group for most of the race and made his decisive move after about 35 km, leaving behind a field that included the defending champion, Benson Kipruto, who finished fourth.

The men's podium was also unusually varied, with runners from Sweden, Italy and Lesotho in the top three. Crippa's second place, 13 seconds behind the winner, meant two European men finished ahead of the defending champion. For the sport, a debut win of this kind will raise interest in whether more track and road runners will move up to the marathon earlier.

In the women's race, Chepkirui confirmed her standing as one of the strongest marathon runners in the world. She first won New York in 2024, her first major victory, and has now taken the title again. McClain's late surge to second, passing two-time winner Hellen Obiri just before the line, was a highlight for home fans.

Marcel Hug's win was his eighth New York title. His margin over Romanchuk was very small, showing how close the top of the sport remains.

For Indian followers of the sport, the race has a familiar name on it: it is run as the TCS New York City Marathon, with India's Tata Consultancy Services as title sponsor. Results like Almgren's also show Indian distance runners, who are trying to close the gap at the world level, how fast the international marathon field is moving.

NYC Marathon 2026: the winners Race | Winner | Time Men | Andreas Almgren (Sweden) | 2:06:01 Women | Sheila Chepkirui (Kenya) | 2:24:36 Men's wheelchair | Marcel Hug | 1:28:14 Women's wheelchair | Catherine Debrunner | 1:40:02

Short-term: Almgren becomes one of the names to watch for the 2027 spring marathons, while Chepkirui strengthens her case as one of the leading women in the event.

Long-term: A debut win by a European runner in New York may encourage more track athletes to move up to the marathon earlier in their careers.

Who is affected: Elite runners and their teams, marathon organisers and sponsors, and the tens of thousands of amateur runners who took part in the race.

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