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Andreas Almgren, Sheila Chepkirui, Marcel Hug, and Catherine Debrunner Win 2026 TCS New York City Marathon

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BYNYRR Staff
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Almgren wins men’s open division in his marathon debut

Chepkirui captures second women’s open division title

Hug extends his record number of men’s wheelchair division wins to eight

Debrunner breaks the tape with one of the largest margins of victory in event history

**Editorial Video News Release available via this link**

**TCS New York City Marathon editorial photos available via Official Photo Partner Getty Images HERE**

New York, Nov. 1, 2026 — New York Road Runners (NYRR), the nonprofit that “runs” New York City, hosted nearly 60,000 athletes* for today’s TCS New York City Marathon—the best day of the year, in the best city in the world. This year’s race celebrated the 50th anniversary of the 5-boro course, which was first run in 1976 to celebrate the nation’s Bicentennial and uplift the city. Andreas Almgren won the men’s open division in his debut at the distance; 2024 TCS New York City Marathon champion Sheila Chepkirui took her second title in the women’s open division; Marcel Hug captured his eighth victory in the men’s wheelchair division; and Catherine Debrunner, coming off her new world record last month, added a second women’s wheelchair division title to her collection.

Almgren Wins in Debut

Almgren, the recently crowned 2026 World Athletics Half Marathon champion and 2026 European champion in the 10,000 meters, broke the tape in his marathon debut, the first open division man to do so since Gebre Gebremariam in 2010. The Swedish national record holder at 5,000 meters and half marathon stayed with the lead pack through the first 25 miles before making a decisive move with one mile to go. Almgren’s historic victory marked the first time a Swede has won any division at the TCS New York City Marathon. Almgren outlasted Italy’s Yeman Crippa, a six-time European Championships medalist making his New York Road Runners debut, and Kamohelo Mofolo of Lesotho, who celebrated his 21st birthday by becoming the first athlete from his country to place on the podium.

“This is my first marathon. I don’t really know how it’s supposed to feel. So at 32K, [I thought] I’m tired [and that] I was supposed to feel a lot better,” said Almgren after the race. “Then with 5K left, I started feeling [that it was] pretty easy to respond to the moves. So somewhere around there, I felt like, [it] might be my day, actually.”

In one of the strongest American fields ever assembled, four men placed in the top 11, running the four fastest times ever by American men in New York. Zouhair Talbi, the top American at the 2026 Boston Marathon, claimed the top spot (sixth overall) in 2:06:43, followed closely by debutant Ahmed Muhumed (eighth in 2:07:09), Ryan Ford (10th in 2:07:17), and Conner Mantz (11th in 2:07:27).

Chepkirui Takes Back the Crown

Kenya’s Chepkirui added another medal to her TCS New York City Marathon collection, winning her second title in three years in a time of 2:24:36. The race for second and third came down to the final meters, with American Jess McClain coming from behind to outsprint last year’s champion and event record holder Hellen Obiri from Kenya. McClain’s monumental day marked her highest finish at an Abbott World Marathon Majors race and the first time an American woman podiumed in the open division of the TCS New York City Marathon since Olympic medalist Shalane Flanagan placed third in 2018.

McClain’s performance carried momentum for the rest of the Americans, with three others placing in the top 10. McClain was followed by Carrie Ellwood in sixth (2:26:28), Weini Kelati in seventh (2:26:51) in her long-awaited marathon debut, and Paige Wood in eighth (2:27:29).

A Swiss Sweep in the Wheelchair Division

In the wheelchair division, Hug (1:28:14) and Debrunner (1:40:02), both of Switzerland, claimed the titles. It was Hug’s eighth TCS New York City Marathon win, extending his record. He outlasted American Daniel Romanchuk, a three-time champion here, by a single second. Debrunner won decisively, finishing nearly eight and a half minutes in front of American Tatyana McFadden, who has won the race five times.

“The race was very close. Daniel was very strong today … He was always with me,” said Hug following his victory. “I tried not to give up. He had a little gap, then [I] tried to not give up. Just a few meters before the finish, I caught him again, [so it was a] good win [and] I’m very happy.”

“It was a great race [and] it was a great race day,” said Debrunner post-race. “New York is definitely a special place to come.”

Notable and Inspiring Runners

Notable celebrity and human-interest runners who ran the 2026 TCS New York City Marathon include:

  • Casey Neistat (2:57:25): YouTuber, filmmaker, and social media personality known for his viral videos, creative storytelling, and passion for running.
  • Dylan Efron (3:28:11): Television personality known for The Traitors and Dancing with the Stars. He ran the marathon as part of Team New Balance.
  • Jennifer Connelly (3:40:09): Academy Award–winning actress known for A Beautiful Mind and Top Gun: Maverick. She ran the 2026 TCS New York City Marathon in support of Fred’s Team, which raises funds for cancer research at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
  • Hanna Born (3:58:10): 9/11 survivor who was in the Pentagon’s daycare during the attacks. She ran the 2026 TCS New York City Marathon as part of Team Inspire to honor the 2,977 lives lost through her Run to Remember 2,977 initiative.
  • Antoni Porowski (4:22:15): Television personality known for Queer Eye. He ran the marathon in support of City Harvest, a nonprofit dedicated to fighting hunger in New York City.
  • Tiki Barber (5:11:49): Former New York Giants running back and longtime marathon runner who has completed more than 15 marathons.
  • Mildred Baker (7:03:49): 80-year-old Bronx resident who began running through NYRR Striders in her late seventies. After completing her first half marathon in 2025, she ran her first full marathon as part of Team Inspire.
  • The TCS New York City Marathon course took runners over the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge from Staten Island to Brooklyn, then through Queens, Manhattan, the Bronx, and back into Manhattan to finish in Central Park. The race famously features five bridges, diverse neighborhoods, sweeping views, more than two million spectators, and thousands of volunteers.

*Official finisher numbers will be released tomorrow, Monday, Nov. 2.

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About the History of the New York City Marathon (1970–2026) 

Initially run in 1970 as four-plus laps of Central Park with 55 finishers, the New York City Marathon left the park and was run through the five boroughs for the first time on Oct. 24, 1976, to celebrate the U.S. Bicentennial and uplift the city. The landmark move set the standard for the modern marathon event. This year, New York Road Runners is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the 5-boro marathon course and setting a goal of raising $100 million for its Official Charity Partner Program, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. Produced by the world’s premier running organization, today the TCS New York City Marathon is consistently one of the largest marathons in the world, bringing together nearly 60,000 participants and more than 2 million spectators for the best day of the year, in the best city in the world. 

About New York Road Runners (NYRR)   

A New York City–based nonprofit, New York Road Runners’ vision is to build healthier lives and stronger communities through the transformative power of running—serving more than half a million people annually through its races, free community events, youth running initiatives, and school-based programs across the five boroughs. During its nearly 70 years, New York Road Runners has grown from a local running club to the world’s premier community running organization, producing more than 60 adult and youth races each year, including the TCS New York City Marathon. Held the first Sunday each November, the TCS New York City Marathon features nearly 60,000 runners—from the world’s best professional athletes to a vast range of runners across experience levels, ages, genders, abilities, and backgrounds. To learn more, visit www.nyrr.org.