New York City Marathon 2026: Andreas Almgren Wins in His Debut in 2:06:01, Sheila Chepkirui Reclaims the Women's Title
The elite road races that were still running when the wheelchair champions finished are now official: Sweden's Andreas Almgren won the men's race in his marathon debut in 2:06:01, Kenya's Sheila Chepkirui won her second New York title in 2:24:36, and American Jess McClain took second in the final strides — the first U.S. podium in New York since 2018.
Marathon Sunday in New York has its open-division champions. Sweden's Andreas Almgren won the men's race in 2:06:01 in his marathon debut, finishing 13 seconds ahead of Italy's Yemaneberhan Crippa, with Kamohelo Mofolo of Lesotho third in 2:06:26 on his 21st birthday, according to the Reuters and NBC Sports accounts read this cycle. Defending champion Benson Kipruto finished fourth in 2:06:27. Almgren, the world half-marathon champion, is the first Swedish runner to win the New York City Marathon and the first to win any major marathon, per NBC Sports.
The women's race finished in a sprint. Kenya's Sheila Chepkirui reclaimed the title she won in 2024, crossing in Central Park in 2:24:36 for her second New York crown, per Reuters. American Jess McClain surged past defending champion Hellen Obiri in the final strides to take second in 2:24:42 — Obiri third in 2:24:43 — making McClain the first American, female or male, on the New York podium since Shalane Flanagan's third place in 2018, per NBC Sports. The top American man was Zouhair Talbi, sixth in 2:06:43.
The elite results complete the winners file this station promised in its wheelchair file (SQ-20261101-033, published this morning): Marcel Hug won his eighth men's wheelchair title in 1:28:14 and Catherine Debrunner won the women's wheelchair race in 1:40:02, per the NBC Sports results file. The race, the 55th New York City Marathon and the last World Marathon Major of 2026, marked the 50th anniversary of the five-borough course.
