NEW YORK — Andreas Almgren of Sweden won the men's race of the New York City Marathon in his debut in the event while Sheila Chepkirui of Kenya won the women's race on Sunday for the second time.Almgren was making his debut at 26.2 miles after a successful career running half-marathons.He pulled away from Yemaneberhan Crippa of Italy in the final mile to take the victory in 2 hours, 6 minutes and 1 second.
Crippa finished 13 seconds behind.Kamohelo Mofolo of Lesotho was third, edging out defending champion Benson Kipruto.Almgren's time was the third fastest in the course's 50-year history, and the top seven finishers all were among the top 10 all-time times.
He became the first marathoner to win his debut in the event since Gebre Gebremariam of Ethiopia won the 2010 race.American Zouhair Talbi finished sixth and ran the fastest time ever by a U.S.runner in the event.Chepkirui, who also won the race in 2024, pulled away from countrymate Hellen Obiri in the final 150 meters to seal the victory in 2:24:36.
American Jessica McClain finished second, passing Obiri — a two-time winner — in the final few strides.It was the first time a U.S.
woman finished in the top three since 2018.McClain was 6 seconds behind Chepkirui.It was the 50th time that the race has run through all five boroughs of the city.
There were just over 2,000 competitors in 1976, the seventh running of the race, including only 88 women.About 60,000 runners stepped up to the starting line Sunday, with nearly half of them women.There were runners from more than 140 countries competing Sunday, including defending men's Kipruto.
He won in thrilling fashion last year, edging Alexander Mutiso by three-hundredths of a second.The New York City Marathon began in 1970, and the first six years it was run entirely inside Central Park, with runners doing loops.The race was moved out of Central Park in celebration of the U.S.
bicentennial and to help uplift the city, which was struggling.It ended up turni...