Andreas Almgren won the New York City Marathon with a time of 2:06:01. For the Swedish athlete, it was his debut over the 42.195 km distance. Despite having no previous marathon experience, he was considered one of the contenders for the win. He ultimately decided the race in his favor in the final part of the course.
Second place went to Italy’s Yemaneberhan Crippa, who finished just 13 seconds behind the winner. Kamohelo Mofolo of Lesotho completed the podium. All three athletes finished under 2:07:00.
The Battle For Victory In The Second Half Of The Marathon
Andreas Almgren and Zouhair Talbi were among the leaders from the start. Crippa and defending champion Benson Kipruto were also in contention for top positions. American fans closely followed the performance of Conner Mantz.
The leaders passed the 10 km mark in 30:52. At halfway, the clock showed 1:04:01, with Talbi in front. The Moroccan athlete tried several times to increase the pace and break away from the group, but his advantage did not last long. Crippa and the others gradually closed the gap, and the lead group came back together.
Around the 32 km mark, Kamohelo Mofolo launched an attack. The runner from Lesotho briefly moved ahead, but his acceleration did not allow him to build a lasting lead. The fight for victory remained wide open.
About seven kilometers from the finish, Conner Mantz lost contact with the leading group. Five kilometers from the end, Talbi, Kipruto, Almgren, and Crippa were still in the front pack. Shortly afterward, Talbi began to fall back. The podium places would be decided over the demanding final kilometers through Central Park.
Almgren Attacks Before The Finish
Two kilometers before the finish, Benson Kipruto dropped out of the battle for the win. Almgren and Crippa remained in front. The Swede did not wait until the final meters — about one kilometer from the finish, he launched a decisive attack and quickly built a gap over the Italian.
Almgren crossed the finish line in 2:06:01, winning the first marathon of his career. Crippa finished second in 2:06:14, and Mofolo took third with 2:06:26.
The Historical Significance Of Almgren’s Victory
Almgren’s victory also carries historical significance. He is the first European-born winner of the New York City Marathon in 30 years. The last athlete meeting this criterion was Italy’s Giacomo Leone, who won in 1996.
It is important to distinguish between an athlete’s birthplace and the country they represent. Abdi Nageeye, the 2024 New York City Marathon winner, represented the Netherlands but was born in Somalia. For this reason, he is not counted among European-born winners. Changing nationality or sports representation does not change an athlete’s birthplace.
This is why Almgren’s triumph is particularly notable: after 30 years, the New York City Marathon has once again been won by an athlete born in Europe.
New York City Marathon 2026 – Top 10 Men
| Place | Athlete | Country | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Andreas Almgren | 🇸🇪 Sweden | 2:06:01 |
| 2 | Yemaneberhan Crippa | 🇮🇹 Italy | 2:06:14 |
| 3 | Kamohelo Mofolo | 🇱🇸 Lesotho | 2:06:26 |
| 4 | Benson Kipruto | 🇰🇪 Kenya | 2:06:27 |
| 5 | Haftu Strintzos | 🇦🇺 Australia | 2:06:34 |
| 6 | Zouhair Talbi | 🇺🇸 USA | 2:06:43 |
| 7 | Ryota Kondo | 🇯🇵 Japan | 2:07:08 |
| 8 | Ahmed Muhumed | 🇺🇸 USA | 2:07:09 |
| 9 | Geoffrey Kamworor | 🇰🇪 Kenya | 2:07:09 |
| 10 | Ryan Ford | 🇺🇸 USA | 2:07:17 |
Photo Source: Reuters
More About The New York City Marathon
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