New York Marathon: Almgren Makes History on Debut, Chepkirui Wins Second Title

New York: Sweden's Andreas Almgren won the New York Marathon men's title on his very first marathon, clocking 2 hours 6 minutes 01 seconds. The 31-year-old becomes the first European-born runner to win the race in 30 years; the last was Italy's Giacomo Leone in 2026. In the women's race, Kenya's 35-year-old Sheila Chepkirui claimed her second New York Marathon title in 2 hours 24 minutes 36 seconds. Two very different stories unfolded on the same day — a European runner making history on debut, and an experienced Kenyan winning a razor-thin contest in the closing stages. Almgren's victory is notable because it came in the first marathon of his career. Earlier in September he had set a European record in the half marathon, and in August he won gold in the 10,000 metres at the European Championships. That form meant expectations were high in New York, and he met them by winning on the biggest stage at the first attempt. For a runner who built his reputation over middle and long distances on the track, the 42.195-kilometre test was a first, and he did not merely finish it — he turned it into a historic win. The men's race was extremely tight. Almgren finished in 2:06:01, while Italy's Yemaneberhan Crippa was 13 seconds behind in 2:06:14 for second place. Lesotho's Kamohelo Mofolo was a further 12 seconds back in 2:06:26 for third. The top three were separated by just 25 seconds in total. That is unusually small for a marathon and shows the contest stayed open until the final kilometre. The report gives only nationality and the time gap for Crippa and Mofolo, but the level of their performances suggests the race was built around tactics, with the outcome settled only in the closing phase. To understand the historical weight of Almgren's win, one has to look back to 2026, when Leone won the title. Over the past three decades the men's race in New York has been dominated by African and North American runners, and a European runner reaching the top breaks that pattern. It is worth noting that the report specifically uses the term 'European-born', an important nuance in distance running, since many athletes representing European nations were born in East Africa. This indicates the record rests on a particular statistical basis. Almgren was emotional after the win. 'I've got the legs today,' he said. He later admitted he was about to start crying. The reaction reflects the moment, which must have been extraordinary for a first-time marathoner. The report describes his year as remarkable and says he lived up to the anticipation that surrounded his debut over the distance. The women's race was even closer than the men's. Chepkirui won in 2:24:36, while America's Jessica McClain was six seconds behind in 2:24:42 for second. Kenya's Hellen Obiri was just one second further back in 2:24:43 for third. The top three were separated by only seven seconds in total, showing the title was decided in the final moments. Despite that intensity, the women's race received comparatively less space in the report — Obiri's third place is not stated directly but inferred from being 'one second further back'. After the race, Chepkirui spoke about her tactics and described Obiri as a very strong rival. Her comments suggest that her decision to push in the closing stages proved decisive. Much of the picture of the women's contest emerges from that quote alone, since the report gives limited background on the runners and their previous achievements. This was Chepkirui's second New York title, though it is not made clear in which year she won previously, nor whether she was defending champion. This edition was held on a special occasion. The famous New York Marathon route passes through five boroughs — Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Manhattan — and the 50th year of the race on that course was part of the occasion. Millions of spectators line the streets to cheer the runners, and that atmosphere is what makes New York one of the world's most special marathons. The 25-second gap in the men's race and the seven-second gap in the women's race both show that the day belonged not to fast starts but to patience and late-race tactics. Both winners proved that in a marathon, form and making the right decision at the right moment matter more than experience. For Almgren, the win could define the direction of his career, while Chepkirui showed she can still win in the toughest conditions.