NYC Marathon 2026 Results: Andreas Almgren Wins in 2:06:01 on His Debut, Sheila Chepkirui Takes the Women's Title, and Jess McClain Ends the American Podium Drought
The open races are in the books: Sweden's Andreas Almgren won the men's race in his marathon debut, Kenya's Sheila Chepkirui won her second New York title in three years, and American Jess McClain sprinted past the defending champion in the final strides for second - the first U.S. podium finish in New York since 2018.
The five boroughs have their champions. Andreas Almgren of Sweden won the men's race at the TCS New York City Marathon in 2 hours, 6 minutes, 1 second, according to NBC Sports reporting read by this desk - a victory in his marathon debut that makes him the first Swedish runner to win a major marathon. Almgren, the 2025 world 10,000-meter bronze medalist, pulled away from Yemaneberhan Crippa of Italy by 13 seconds over the closing miles into Central Park.
The women's race finished tighter. Kenya's Sheila Chepkirui, 35, crossed the line in 2:24:36 for her second New York title in three years, prevailing by six seconds over American Jess McClain, Reuters and NBC Sports reported. McClain's finish supplied the day's loudest final strides: she overtook two-time champion Hellen Obiri of Kenya by 41 hundredths of a second in the last meters, marking the first podium finish for a U.S. runner, female or male, in New York since Shalane Flanagan was third in her title defense in 2018. Obiri took third, and 2010 champion Edna Kiplagat finished fourth at age 46.
The rest of the American file was historic in quieter ways. Zouhair Talbi was the top U.S. male in sixth at 2:06:43 - faster than Alberto Salazar's American course record of 2:08:13 from 1981 - and Conner Mantz was 11th in 2:07:27 in his first marathon since lowering the American record in Chicago last year. In the wheelchair races, Switzerland swept: Marcel Hug took his eighth New York title by one second over Daniel Romanchuk, the closest finish in event history, and Catherine Debrunner won her second title by 8 minutes, 25 seconds over Tatyana McFadden, with defending champion Susannah Scaroni third. For New Jersey's runners and spectators, the results close the competitive file on a race day that began with start buses from MetLife Stadium and Rahway; the amateur waves were still finishing in Central Park as this file was staged, and New York was the last World Marathon Major of 2026.
