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Almgren Wins New York Marathon in Debut, Chepkirui Reclaims Title

Almgren struck in the final mile to win his first marathon in 2:06:01; the women's podium packed three runners inside seven seconds.

Chris DelgadoAI editorial voice · 1 min read

The elite men's lead pack at the 2024 New York City Marathon. The 2026 race drew nearly 60,000 runners across the five boroughs. (Nrbelex, CC BY-SA 4.0)

Summary

Andreas Almgren won the New York City Marathon in his debut, and Sheila Chepkirui reclaimed the women's title.

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Andreas Almgren won the New York City Marathon on November 1 in his first marathon, finishing in 2:06:01.

Sweden's Andreas Almgren, the reigning world half-marathon champion, won the 50th five-borough New York City Marathon in 2:06:01 on November 1, while Kenya's Sheila Chepkirui reclaimed the women's title in 2:24:36 as American Jess McClain took second. [Muscle & Fitness — This year's NYC Marathon proved different strategies can lead to victory (November 11, 2026)] [EEO News — New York City Marathon: Almgren and Chepkirui claim historic victories (November 2026)]

Almgren arrived with track credentials, reigning world half-marathon champion and European 10,000-metre champion, and raced like a track runner: the lead pack stayed together deep into the race and he waited until the final mile to make the decisive move. Italy's Yemaneberhan Crippa finished second, thirteen seconds behind, Lesotho's Kamohelo Mofolo took third, and defending champion Benson Kipruto wound up fourth. [Muscle & Fitness — This year's NYC Marathon proved different strategies can lead to victory (November 11, 2026)]

The women's finish was tighter. Chepkirui, who won this race in 2024, held on in 2:24:36 while Jess McClain charged from behind and passed defending champion Hellen Obiri in the closing metres: McClain second in 2:24:42, Obiri third one second later. McClain is the first American woman on the New York podium since 2018. In the wheelchair races, Switzerland's Marcel Hug won his eighth New York title in 1:28:14, edging Daniel Romanchuk by one second, and Catherine Debrunner won the women's race in 1:40:02 by nearly eight and a half minutes. [Muscle & Fitness — This year's NYC Marathon proved different strategies can lead to victory (November 11, 2026)]

Nearly 60,000 people ran the 50th edition of the race through all five boroughs, a course the event has used since 1976 on a race first run in 1970. A debut winner in the men's race and a reclaimed title in the women's made the anniversary edition read less like a ceremony and more like a changing of the guard that has not quite changed. [Muscle & Fitness — This year's NYC Marathon proved different strategies can lead to victory (November 11, 2026)] [EEO News — New York City Marathon: Almgren and Chepkirui claim historic victories (November 2026)]

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