Kenyan Chepkirui takes back NYC Marathon title, Almgren wins in debut

The 2026 NYC Marathon showcased a fierce competition in the women's division, ultimately leaving the spotlight on Kenya's Sheila Chepkirui. Beginning with a small group of elite runners, including three former winners, the race was tightly contested. By the halfway point, the field had narrowed down to an eight-woman pack, featuring three Kenyan runners among the leaders.

At the 30K mark, Chepkirui led the pack, but all eight competitors were still in contention as they approached the finish line. As the final two miles were completed, Chepkirui and American runner Jessica McClain found themselves in a fierce battle for the top spot. After a hard-fought battle, Chepkirui managed to break away from the American runner and clinch victory with a time of 2:24:36.

McClain finished just 6 seconds behind with a time of 2:24:42. Chepkirui claimed her second win at the NYC Marathon, having previously won in 2024. Meanwhile, in the wheelchair division, Marcel Hug secured his eighth NYC Marathon title, narrowly edging out Daniel Romanchuk by just 1.13 seconds. This marked Hug's eighth victory since 2016, sharing top honors with Romanchuk.

Catherine Debrunner, who holds the course record for her 2023 win, secured her second victory at the event, finishing roughly seven minutes ahead of the field. Debrunner, however, fell short of shattering her own record, finishing 30 seconds behind her 2023 time.