Most runners treat their first marathon as a learning experience. Sweden's Andreas Almgren treated his like a victory lap. On Sunday, he won the New York City Marathon in his debut at the distance, clocking 2:06:01 and pulling away from Italy's Yemaneberhan Crippa in the final mile. Crippa finished 13 seconds back, and Lesotho's Kamohelo Mofolo nipped defending champ Benson Kipruto for third.
Almgren's time is the third fastest in the race's history, and he's the first person to win New York on debut since 2010. It was a quick day all around. The top seven men all ran times that rank in the race's all-time top 10. American Zouhair Talbi finished sixth and ran the fastest New York time ever by a U.S. man.
The women's race came down to a sprint. Kenya's Sheila Chepkirui, who also won in 2024, broke away from her countrywoman and course record holder Hellen Obiri in the last 150 meters to win in 2:24:36. But the loudest cheers might have been for Jessica McClain. The American passed Obiri in the final strides to take second, just six seconds behind Chepkirui. It's the first time a U.S. woman has finished in the top three since 2018.
In the wheelchair races, Switzerland's Marcel Hug won his eighth title by barely a second over Daniel Romanchuk, and Catherine Debrunner won the women's race in 1:40:02, the second-fastest time ever on the course.
It was a meaningful year, too. About 60,000 people started, nearly half of them women, from more than 140 countries. This was the 50th time the race has gone through all five boroughs. Back in 1976, the field had just over 2,000 runners and only 88 women. Organizers say runners raised more than $100 million for charity.
Could we be looking at the next great marathoner in Almgren? And did you run it, or are you thinking about trying next year?
