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Almgren Wins NYC Marathon Debut, Chepkirui Defends Title
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In Short: Andreas Almgren of Sweden won the men's race in his debut, while Sheila Chepkirui of Kenya defended her women's title at the New York City Marathon on Sunday.
Andreas Almgren of Sweden won the men's race of the New York City Marathon in his debut, finishing in 2:06:01, the third fastest time in the course's 50-year history. Almgren, who is the reigning world half-marathon champion, became the first European-born man to win the race since Giacomo Leone in 1996.
Sheila Chepkirui of Kenya defended her women's title, finishing in 2:24:36. Chepkirui pulled away from countrymate Hellen Obiri in the final 150 meters to secure the victory. Chepkirui told ESPN, 'The last mile was really tricky, and I had to be patient because I knew Hellen was really strong.'
Almgren's victory marked a remarkable debut, as he broke the European half-marathon record in September and won the 10,000m gold at the European Athletics Championships in August. He said, 'This is my first marathon. I didn't know how I was supposed to feel.'
The race saw a competitive field, with six runners finishing under 2:07, placing them among the top 10 all-time times. Yemaneberhan Crippa of Italy finished second, 13 seconds behind Almgren, while Kamohelo Mofolo of Lesotho was third.
Chepkirui's race was closely contested. She and Obiri broke away from the lead pack with about four miles to go. Chepkirui said, 'I had to really push up to the finish line.' What she didn't know was that McClain had been gaining on both of the Kenyans in the final 800 meters of the race.
The New York City Marathon, which began in 1970, celebrated its 50th anniversary this year. The race links New York's five boroughs of Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Manhattan.
Hug passed him in the final 100 meters to win in 1:28:14.
What this adds
The race marked the 50th anniversary of the marathon, which links New York's five boroughs of Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Manhattan.
Almgren's debut dominated much of the pre-race discussion, and the running world was curious to see how the 31-year-old who began his athletics life as an 800m runner would fare over 26.2 miles.
Background
Sheila Chepkirui of Kenya defended her women's title in the New York City Marathon on Sunday, finishing in 2:24:36, according to the Courant and ESPN.
What's confirmed
- Almgren was making his debut at 26.2 miles after a successful career running half-marathons.
- Chepkirui, who also won the race in 2024, pulled away from countrymate Hellen Obiri in the final 150 meters to seal the victory in 2:24:36.
- He became the first marathoner to win his debut in the event since Gebre Gebremariam of Ethiopia won the 2010 race.
- The New York City Marathon began in 1970, and the first six years it was run entirely inside Central Park, with runners doing loops.
- Hug passed him in the final 100 meters to win.
- NEW YORK (AP) — Andreas Almgren of Sweden won the men’s race of the New York City Marathon in his debut in the event while Sheila Chepkirui of Kenya won the women’s race on Sunday for the second time.
- "The last mile was really tricky," Chepkirui told the ESPN broadcast.
- "This is my first marathon. I didn't know how I was supposed to feel," said Almgren, who earned $100,000 for the victory.
- "I just tried to stay up at front and see what happened and see how the race developed," Almgren said.
- The 2024 champion Chepkirui was running all by herself when she crossed the line, two years after she held off compatriot Hellen Obiri, who finished third, a second slower than American Jess McClain (2:24:42).
- The half-marathon world champion Almgren finished 13 seconds ahead of Italian Yemaneberhan Crippa, while Kamohelo Mofolo (2:06:26) of Lesotho was third.
- “You can’t ask for a better debut… I’m about to start crying.” There was a lot of anticipation surrounding Almgren’s arrival in New York and he lived up to the hype as he became the first European man in three decades to triumph across the five boroughs, and said he planned to tackle the 26.2 miles again.
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- Almgren’s debut dominated much of the pre-race discussion and the running world was curious to see how the 31-year-old who began his athletics life as an 800m runner would fare over 26.2 miles.
- Crippa went with him, as did another marathon debutant – Patrick Kiprop of Kenya – and opened a 15-metre gap before being swallowed up by the field again.