Almgren and Chepkirui Triumph at New York Marathon

Sweden's Andreas Almgren won the men's race at the New York Marathon on Sunday, claiming victory in his first-ever competitive appearance over the 26.2-mile distance. The 31-year-old finished the demanding course with a time of two hours, six minutes and one second. Almgren's victory makes him the first European-born man to win the event in 30 years, following Italy's Giacomo Leone in 1996.

Almgren navigated the hilly course within a crowded lead pack before pulling away in the final stages of the race. He finished 13 seconds ahead of Italy's Yemaneberhan Crippa, who took second place. Kamohelo Mofolo of Lesotho finished in third, finishing 12 seconds behind Crippa after edging out the defending champion Benson Kipruto.

Reflecting on his debut performance, Almgren expressed surprise and emotion at the outcome. "I didn't know how I was supposed to feel," he said, noting that he realized he had built a significant gap near the finish line and chose to enjoy the final moments of the race.

In the women's division, Kenya's Sheila Chepkirui secured her second New York Marathon title, having previously won the race in 2024. The 35-year-old crossed the finish line in 2:24:36 after breaking away from compatriot Hellen Obiri in the final 150 meters.

American runner Jessica McClain finished in second place, passing Obiri in the final strides of the race to finish six seconds behind Chepkirui. McClain's performance marked the first time a United States woman has finished in the top three of the event since 2018.

The event marked the 50th anniversary of the New York Marathon, which routes runners through the city's five boroughs: Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Manhattan. In the wheelchair divisions, Marcel Hug claimed the men's race for the eighth time, while Catherine Debrunner won the women's race with a time of 1:40:02.