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Chepkirui Defeats Obiri, Almgren Wins Debut at NYC Marathon
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In Short: The race saw a strong showing from Kenyan runners, with Obiri and Chepkirui winning the last four NYC Marathons combined.
Sheila Chepkirui secured her second victory at the 2026 TCS New York City Marathon on Sunday, finishing the women's division in 2:24:35. Chepkirui, who also won in 2024, edged out her compatriot Hellen Obiri in the final 150 meters.
Andreas Almgren, the reigning world half-marathon champion, made a stunning debut in the men's division, winning in 2:06:01. Almgren's time was the third fastest in the course's 50-year history, and he became the first marathoner to win his debut in the event since Gebre Gebremariam in 2010.
The marathon route, which spans all five boroughs, began in Staten Island and ended in Central Park. Runners started in waves between 9 and 11:30 a.m., with the professional wheelchair division kicking off at 8 a.m. From Fort Wadsworth.
Chepkirui's victory came in the Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 3, a shoe that has seen significant success this year, including a sub-two hour finish by Kenyan Sebastian Sawe at the London Marathon and a new women’s world record by Tigst Assefa.
Almgren's win marked a significant milestone in his career, as he transitioned from half-marathons to full marathons with a dominant performance. He pulled away from Yemaneberhan Crippa of Italy in the final mile to win by 13 seconds.
The race saw a strong showing from Kenyan runners, with Obiri and Chepkirui winning the last four NYC Marathons combined. Obiri set a new women’s course record of 2:19:51 last year, while Chepkirui finished in 2:24:36 this year.
The marathon, which began in 1970, initially ran entirely within Central Park for its first six years. This year, it featured five waves of runners starting at different times.
The event, lined with enthusiastic crowds, attracted notable runners like Conner Mantz, the American marathon record-holder, who completed the Chicago Marathon in 2:04:43 last year.
Hug passed him in the final 100 meters to win in 1:28:14.
What this adds
The race saw a strong showing from Kenyan runners, with Obiri and Chepkirui winning the last four NYC Marathons combined.
The marathon route, which spans all five boroughs, began in Staten Island and ended in Central Park.
The event, lined with enthusiastic crowds, attracted notable runners like Conner Mantz, the American marathon record-holder.
What's confirmed
- Chepkirui, who also won in 2024, pulled away from countrymate Hellen Obiri in the final 150 meters to seal the victory in 2 hours, 24 minutes, 36 seconds.
- He became the first marathoner to win his debut in the event since Gebre Gebremariam of Ethiopia won in 2010.
- Almgren's time was the third fastest in the course's 50-year history, and the top seven finishers were among the top 10 all time.
What's still developing
- The marathon route goes through all five boroughs, starting in Staten Island, across the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge into Brooklyn, then Queens, Manhattan and the Bronx before looping back down through Manhattan to the finish line in Central Park.
- Of the 14 World Major Marathon winners in 2026, eight wore the Pro Evo 3 and one more won in the Pro Evo 2.