Almgren Stuns Marathon Debut, Chepkirui Defends Crown in NYC
Kenya's Sheila Chepkirui secures her second NYC title while Sweden's Andreas Almgren shocks the field in his debut.
Sunday morning in New York City transformed into an epic stage of endurance as over 60,000 runners flooded the streets, according to the New York Post [1]. The massive turnout turned the five-borough route into a human river, with tens of thousands of spectators lining the path to cheer on friends, family, and strangers alike.
The competitive drama peaked when Kenya's Sheila Chepkirui claimed victory in the women's division, finishing in 2:24:35, as reported by CBS News [2]. This marks her second 2026 TCS New York City Marathon title. On the men's side, Sweden's Andreas Almgren, the World Half Marathon champion, delivered a stunning performance by winning the men's division in his very first marathon attempt.
The race kicked off at Fort Wadsworth in Staten Island around 8 a.m. ET with the professional wheelchair division, followed by handcyclists and athletes with disabilities. The professional open divisions started next, with five waves of general runners beginning between 9 and 11:30 a.m., according to CBS News [2].
Almgren's debut victory was particularly notable as he joined the field alongside defending champions Hellen Obiri and Benson Kipruto, who had won their respective titles in 2025. American marathon record-holder Conner Mantz also competed, having set his national record at the Chicago Marathon last year.
The 26.2-mile course wound through all five boroughs, starting in Staten Island, crossing the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge into Brooklyn, then traversing Queens, Manhattan, and the Bronx before looping back to finish in Central Park. The New York Road Runners provided interactive trackers for spectators to follow runners in real time, according to CBS News [2].
While the previous year's champions Hellen Obiri and Benson Kipruto were present, the spotlight firmly shifted to Chepkirui's repeat triumph and Almgren's historic debut win. The event saw significant street closures across the city, highlighting the logistical feat required to host such a massive global race. As the waves of runners completed their journey, the city celebrated a day defined by record participation and unexpected champion victories.
Sources
This article is based on reporting by the outlets below.
- New York Post: NYC Marathon draws massive crowds as record number of runners hit the course
- CBS News: 2026 NYC Marathon runners take to the streets as huge crowds cheer them on
