Almgren Makes History on Marathon Debut, Chepkirui Survives by a Second

NEW YORK: Sweden's Andreas Almgren won the New York City Marathon on his debut at the distance, completing the five-borough course from Staten Island through Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Manhattan in 2 hours 6 minutes 1 second. With the win he became the first European-born runner to take the men's title in 30 years, since Italy's Giacomo Leone in 2026. Coming in the year of the event's 50th anniversary, the victory is the biggest moment of Almgren's career. It has been a remarkable season for the 31-year-old. He won the 10,000 metres gold at the European Championships in August and set a European half-marathon record in September, results that made him one of the most talked-about names heading into his first marathon in New York. He lived up to that expectation by taking the title. The men's race proved extremely tight. Italy's Yemaneberhan Crippa finished second in 2:06:14, 13 seconds behind the winner, while Lesotho's Kamohelo Mofolo took third in 2:06:26, a further 12 seconds back. The total spread across the top three was just 25 seconds, an unusual margin over 42.195 kilometres, and one that indicates the race stayed open until the closing kilometres. The leading trio ran together for a long stretch and the outcome was settled only in the final stage. Afterwards Almgren said, “I've got the legs today.” He also admitted he was close to tears once the title was secured. Such emotion is understandable for a runner contesting his first marathon, particularly on a demanding five-borough course and against such close opposition. There is another significant dimension to the win. For the past three decades the New York Marathon has been dominated largely by runners from East Africa and North America. After Leone's 2026 victory, no European-born runner won the men's race for a long stretch. Almgren ended that drought. It is worth noting that the statistic is based on birthplace rather than nationality: many athletes representing European countries in distance running were born in East Africa, so a count based on nationality could tell a different story. The women's race was even closer than the men's. Kenya's Sheila Chepkirui won in 2:24:36, claiming her second New York Marathon title at the age of 35. Jessica McClain of the United States finished second in 2:24:42, just six seconds behind. Kenya's Hellen Obiri took third in 2:24:43, a single second behind McClain. The total spread among the top three was therefore just seven seconds, meaning the medals in the women's race were decided in a far tighter contest than in the men's. Chepkirui, McClain and Obiri ran together deep into the closing stages, with the podium places settled over the final few hundred metres. Chepkirui spoke about her tactics afterwards and described Obiri as a very strong competitor. Her comments suggest the leading trio were together in the closing phase and that nobody was able to open a decisive gap. The one-second margin also shows that the battle between Obiri and McClain went down to the final stride. Comparing the two races produces an intriguing picture. The top-three spread in the men's race was 25 seconds, while in the women's it was just seven. That means the intensity of competition was higher in the women's field, even though the men's title dominated the discussion. Almgren's story had three natural hooks: a first marathon, the end of a long European wait and an emotional reaction. The New York City Marathon is counted among the biggest marathons in the world. Its five-borough route starts on Staten Island and finishes in Central Park in Manhattan, with several climbs and bridges along the way that make it one of the toughest courses on the calendar. Winning it in a first marathon underlines Almgren's ability. Crippa and Mofolo also produced notable performances in the men's race. Both stayed with Almgren until late and the destination of the title was unclear until the final few kilometres. Finishing 13 and 25 seconds back respectively, they showed their preparation was far from lacking. In the women's race, McClain's second place mattered to American fans. She finished only six seconds behind Chepkirui, and a small surge in the final kilometre could have changed the outcome. Obiri missed the podium by a further second, illustrating how precious every second is at this level. Overall, this edition of the New York Marathon delivered two distinct stories: Almgren's historic win on debut on one side, and Chepkirui's lead protected by a single second on the other. Both races proved that a marathon result can turn at any moment and that staying in contention to the final kilometre is what matters most.