Almgren Wins NYC Marathon in Debut; Chepkirui Edges Obiri as McClain Takes Second

Sweden's Andreas Almgren won the TCS New York City Marathon in his first race at the distance on Sunday, Nov. 1, pulling away from Italy's Yemaneberhan Crippa in the final mile to finish in 2:06:01. Kenya's Sheila Chepkirui won the women's race in 2:24:36, and American Jess McClain passed defending champion Hellen Obiri in the last strides to take second, according to World Athletics and the official results.

The race marked the 50th anniversary of the five-borough course, first run in 1976 to celebrate the U.S. Bicentennial, and organizers New York Road Runners said nearly 60,000 athletes took part, according to a race-day release. Official finisher numbers were scheduled to be released on Monday, Nov. 2.

A debut win decided in Central Park

Almgren, 31, arrived in New York as the world half marathon champion and European 10,000-meter champion but had never raced a marathon. Athletics Weekly reported that he had "never covered the full 26.2 miles, even in training," and that he chose New York because, with the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics in mind, it offered a championship-style course. He began his career as an 800-meter runner and has a best of 1:45 at that distance.

The lead group stayed large for most of the race. World Athletics reported that Zouhair Talbi of the United States pushed the pace through halfway in 1:04:01 and tried to break away again on the Queensboro Bridge, but each move was covered. Fifteen men were still together at 35 kilometers, according to Runner's World, before defending champion Benson Kipruto ran a 4:38 mile that cut the contenders down to Kipruto, Almgren and Crippa.

Almgren took the lead for the first time just before 40 kilometers and surged again on Central Park South to finish 13 seconds ahead of Crippa, who ran 2:06:14. Kamohelo Mofolo of Lesotho, competing on his 21st birthday, finished third in a personal best of 2:06:26, one second ahead of Kipruto. New York Road Runners said Mofolo became the first athlete from Lesotho to reach the podium in New York.

Asked whether the moderate early pace had helped him, Almgren said, "I mean, this is my first marathon. I don't really know how it's supposed to feel at those different points," as quoted by Runner's World. Athletics Weekly quoted him as saying, "I've probably never felt so emotional after a race ever."

New York Road Runners said Almgren was the first Swede to win any division of the race and the first man to win the open division on his marathon debut since Gebre Gebremariam in 2010. Abbott World Marathon Majors said he is the first Swede to win one of its races and the first non-African winner of a Major since Yuki Kawauchi in Boston in 2018. Runner's World reported that he earned $100,000 for the win, a figure also reported by Swedish broadcaster SVT Sport, which said he called it the biggest win of his career.

Four American men finished in the top 11. Talbi was the top U.S. finisher in sixth place in 2:06:43, followed by Ahmed Muhumed in eighth in 2:07:09, Ryan Ford in 10th in 2:07:17 and U.S. record holder Conner Mantz in 11th in 2:07:27, according to the official results.

Chepkirui regains title as McClain reaches the podium

The women's race started slowly. World Athletics reported that Obiri led the pack through the first 5 kilometers in 18:23 and that McClain led an 11-runner group through halfway in 1:13:52. Chepkirui led at 20, 25 and 30 kilometers before Obiri moved ahead at 35 kilometers, and Chepkirui was back in front at 40 kilometers, according to FloTrack.

With 400 meters to go, Obiri attempted to kick, but Chepkirui covered the move and pulled clear, World Athletics reported. Chepkirui, the 2024 champion, won by six seconds for her second New York title in three years. Obiri, who set the course record of 2:19:51 in 2025, had beaten Chepkirui in New York a year earlier.

McClain, a 34-year-old from Scottsdale, Arizona, had trailed the two Kenyans by several seconds late in the race. Runner's World reported that she ran the tangents through the curves of Central Park while the leaders stayed in the middle of the road. "I was taking the shortest line possible," she said. She overtook Obiri with steps remaining to finish second in 2:24:42, one second ahead of Obiri's 2:24:43.

"I just felt really strong with 400 to go," McClain said, according to Runner's World. Her finish was the first podium by an American woman in the race since Shalane Flanagan placed third in 2018, and Runner's World reported that she earned $85,000 combined in overall and top-American prize money. Edna Kiplagat, the 2010 champion, was fourth in 2:25:42. Americans Carrie Ellwood, Weini Kelati and Paige Wood finished sixth, seventh and eighth, with Kelati running her marathon debut.

Swiss sweep of the wheelchair races

Switzerland's Marcel Hug won the men's wheelchair race in 1:28:14, one second ahead of American Daniel Romanchuk, for a record-extending eighth New York title, according to the International Paralympic Committee. Romanchuk appeared to have made the decisive move on the second entry into Central Park before Hug passed him in the closing meters. "The race was very close. Daniel was very strong today. He was always with me," Hug said.

Catherine Debrunner, also of Switzerland and the world record holder, won the women's wheelchair race in 1:40:02, 30 seconds off her own course record, for her fifth Abbott World Marathon Majors victory of the year. Tatyana McFadden and Susannah Scaroni of the United States finished second and third. "New York is definitely a special place to come," Debrunner said.