New York Marathon 2026 results: Andreas Almgren storms to stunning debut win

Andreas Almgren produced a spectacular marathon debut to win in New York, unleashing a devastating late acceleration to claim victory in 2:06:01.

The Swede pulled clear of Italy’s Yemaneberhan Crippa with around 800 metres remaining, turning a gripping contest into an emphatic triumph as he demonstrated his extraordinary finishing speed.

Having reached halfway in 1:04:04, Almgren covered the second half in 1:01:57 – a huge negative split of two minutes and seven seconds — to complete an unforgettable introduction to the distance.

Crippa finished 13 seconds behind, while Lesotho’s Kamohelo Mofolo delivered another dramatic moment by sprinting past Benson Kipruto to snatch third.

Earlier, Kenya’s Sheila Chepkirui won the women’s race in 2:24:36, with American Jessica McClain producing a remarkable late surge of her own to deny defending champion Hellen Obiri (KEN) second place.

Men: Almgren saves his best for last

In dry, bright conditions, the men’s race began cautiously, offering little indication of the fireworks to come.

Stephen Jones headed the field through 5km in 15:30 before Zouhair Talbi crossed 10km first in 30:52. The pace then began to build, with Conner Mantz leading through 15km in 45:51 after a 14:59 section.

There was still an enormous number of contenders at halfway, where Talbi led in 1:04:01 and the first 23 men were separated by just 10 seconds.

Almgren was second through that checkpoint in 1:04:04, while Britain’s Jack Rowe remained firmly involved, crossing eighth in 1:04:05.

The front pack continued to hold together deep into the race. There were 16 men together at 25km, 17 at 30km and still 15 at 35km, where Mantz was first across the timing mat in 1:45:33.

But the next five kilometres transformed the contest.

Almgren covered that section in 14:26, reaching 40km in exactly two hours with only Kipruto and Crippa still alongside him. Talbi was six seconds back in fourth, with Mofolo another four seconds behind.

Kipruto was the first of the leading trio to lose contact, leaving Almgren and Crippa to fight for victory.

Then, with around 800 metres remaining, Almgren made his move.

Initially opening a small gap, he continued to accelerate impressively, stretching clear of Crippa as the finish approached. After more than two hours of racing, the debutant had saved his most decisive running for the moment that mattered most.

He covered the final 2.195km in 6:01 to win in 2:06:01, a performance memorable as much for its control and closing speed as its finishing time.

Almgren is also the European 10,000m champion and he added the world half-marathon title in Copenhagen in September, clocking a European record 58:06.

Andreas Almgren Valencia 10K 2026 finish line — Andreas Almgren has previously been a star at shorter distances [Photo credit: COROS]

Crippa followed in 2:06:14, but the battle for the final podium place remained alive to the line. Mofolo’s sprint carried him past Kipruto to finish third in 2:06:26, with the Kenyan one second behind.

Australia’s Haftu Strintzos completed the top five in 2:06:34.

Women: Chepkirui wins as McClain delivers late twist

The women’s race also built towards a dramatic conclusion, with Chepkirui securing victory and McClain charging through in the final 100 metres to take second from Obiri.

A tightly packed opening saw Carrie Ellwood cross 5km first in 18:23 before the pace gradually increased. Viola Cheptoo headed the field at 10km in 35:45, with Chepkirui leading through 15km in 52:58.

McClain was first across halfway in 1:13:52, followed immediately by fellow Americans Ellwood, Amanda Vestri and Lauren Hagans. The first 16 women were still separated by only 12 seconds.

The front group narrowed to 11 by 25km, but there was little to choose between the main contenders even as the race entered its closing stages.

At 30km, the first eight were within 1.2 seconds, with Chepkirui leading in 1:44:02. Five kilometres later, six women remained within a second as Obiri crossed first in 2:01:15.

The decisive separation came between 35km and 40km.

Chepkirui and Obiri reached the latter checkpoint together in 2:17:39, with McClain just over three seconds behind. Mercy Chelangat was fourth, almost 17 seconds off the lead, as the contest appeared to have become a duel between the two Kenyans.

But McClain refused to let the podium order settle.

Chepkirui pulled clear to take the victory in 2:24:36, while behind her the American produced a flying finish, overhauling Obiri in the final 100 metres.

McClain crossed in 2:24:42, with Obiri taking third in 2:24:43 – a striking late reversal against an athlete renowned for her finishing speed.

Edna Kiplagat moved up to fourth in 2:25:42, ahead of Chelangat in 2:25:46, while Ellwood finished sixth in 2:26:28.