Fresh New Faces in the Spotlight
The New York–area running scene is one of the most competitive in the country. Week after week at New York Road Runners races, local athletes notch up stellar performances.
This spring we’ve seen some new faces in the spotlight amidst the departure of the women's and men's 2025 Fred Lebow Runners of the Year, Felicia Pasadyn and Matt Leach, who have left the area. The
2026 RBC Brooklyn Half showcased this rising talent alongside familiar faces. The upcoming
Mastercard New York Mini 10K on June 6 will feature a deep local competitive field joining pro athletes from around the world.
Here’s a look at some of 2026's top local runners. Congratulations to them on their accomplishments—we’re excited to see what’s ahead!
Men
Abraham Longosiwa – elitefeats Sports
In his first NYRR race and first-ever half marathon, Abraham Longosiwa of
elitefeats Sports won the 2026 RBC Brooklyn Half in 1:04:32. The next day he graduated from Hofstra University, where he’s been a standout in cross country and track and field.
Abraham won the Kenyan 8K Cross Country Championship in 2019. His older brother, Thomas, was the bronze medalist in the 5,000 meters at the 2012 London Olympics.
“Before this race, most of the events I competed in were 5K and 10K races on the track and in cross country,” Abraham said. “I honestly didn’t know exactly what to expect going into it, but I trusted my training and just tried to stay calm and compete hard. It was an incredible experience from start to finish. The crowd support and the energy throughout Brooklyn made it really special.”
He plans to run more NYRR races in the near future. “Running has been a huge part of my life for years," he said. "It has taught me a lot about discipline, patience, and believing in myself."
Ryan Kutch – Central Park Track Club Tracksmith
2026 RBC Brooklyn Half men's podium finishers Owen Ritz (third, 1:05:40), Abraham Longosiwa (first, 1:04:32), and Ryan Kutch (second, 1:04:35).
Ryan Kutch was the runner-up at the RBC Brooklyn Half in 1:04:35, a personal best. He’s been a top finisher at many NYRR races (including winning the 2025 New Balance Bronx 10 Mile), but this race was a breakthrough.
“I was definitely happy with it,” he said. “I paced it well and hung in there mentally to make it close—just didn’t have that extra gear at the end. It was a fun race, and [I’m] hoping to build on this for the next half marathon.”
Ryan ran track and cross country at Fordham University and has been a member of Central Park Track Club for five years. “It has allowed me to continue competing at a high level after college,” he said. “Training with the team has allowed me to get excellent coaching and train with a strong group of guys. I want to start doing some half marathons since I feel like I’ve built good aerobic shape over the years. I find training for the half marathon pretty fun since you can do anything from 400s on the track to a hard long run, which keeps it fresh.”
Issame and Jaouad El Jazouli – United Mexican Runners of New York
New Jersey–based brothers Issame and Jaouad El Jazouli started 2026 on a high note by breaking the tape hand in hand at the NYRR Midnight Run. They've continued to excel, with Jaouad finishing first among runners age 40+ (sixth overall) at the RBC Brooklyn Half in 1:06:25. Stay tuned for a blog post on Issame and Jaouad, coming soon.
Women
Fatima Alanis – Central Park Track Club Tracksmith
In her second-ever NYRR race, Fatima Alanis of Central Park Track Club ran away from a strong women’s field, winning the RBC Brooklyn Half in 1:13:11, a personal best.
"I felt strong throughout the race," she said. "My biggest goal with [running] since moving to NYC a year ago has just been to have as much fun as possible. For me that’s meant setting exciting goals, like trying to win Brooklyn, while keeping my training intentional but flexible around the rest of life."
A former competitive gymnast, Fatima ran on the track team at the University of North Carolina. "I’ve always loved sports but something about running has kept me in it," she said. "I love going for a run after sitting at a desk all day, love running in negative degree weather, I love working towards something."
She ran much of the race with her coach, Roberta Groner, who finished second in 1:13:25 at age 48. Stay tuned for more on Roberta in a blog post coming soon.
Maddie Offstein – Central Park Track Club Tracksmith
Roberta Groner (second, 1:13:25), Fatima Alanis (first, 1:13:11), and Maddie Offstein (third, 1:13:55)—the women's podium at the 2026 RBC Brooklyn Half.
Madison (Maddie) Offstein was third at the RBC Brooklyn Half in 1:13:55. “I really enjoyed starting in Prospect Park and getting in a couple of hilly miles with teammates,” she said. “Coming out of the park I knew it would be time to be tough and keep my training partners in my sights.”
“I just had so much fun. That was the big thing that stuck with me about the race,” she added.
Maddie qualified for the 2028 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials last December at the Valencia Marathon, where she ran 2:33:27, finishing just behind her CPTC teammate Kidan Kidane. “Both Kidan and I ran 2:33, and we shared an awesome embrace at the finish line,” she said. “We kind of looked at each other, almost shocked that we had just done that.”
Maddie will run the Mastercard New York Mini 10K on June 6.
Nonbinary
Dickie Reinicke – Brooklyn Track Club
Danica (Dickie) Reinicke ran their first NYRR race in the nonbinary division at the RBC Brooklyn Half and won in 1:18:17.
A self-described “very average high school runner,” Dickie didn't run competitively in college, but instead took on half marathons and marathons. They run for
Brooklyn Track Club and loved the RBC Brooklyn Half course. “Since it can be hard to tell who else is running in the nonbinary category, I had no idea I was leading until the very final stretch,” they said. “A fun surprise!”
Also finishing on the RBC Brooklyn Half podium were perennial top nonbinary finishers Jacob Caswell (second, 1:20:43) and
J Solle (third, 1:22:28), both of
Front Runners New York.
Stay tuned for more on Dickie in a blog post coming up during LGBTQ+ Pride Month in June.
You May Also Like...
The Top Local Finishers at the 2025 TCS New York City Marathon