Almgren wins New York in 2:06:01 on marathon debut
A 4:25 26th mile settled it, and Jess McClain's 2:24:42 ended an eight year wait for an American on the New York podium.
Andreas Almgren won the 2026 New York City Marathon in 2:06:01 in his first ever race at the distance. CITIUS MAG says he ran a 4:25 26th mile to pull away from Yemaneberhan Crippa of Italy, who took second in 2:06:14. Almgren had gone in as the favorite and delivered.
Kamohelo Mofolo of Lesotho rounded out the men's podium in 2:06:26. Jonathan Gault points out what that top three has in common, which is who is missing from it.
"This was the first time since the formation of the World Marathon Majors in 2006 in which a men's race featured no Kenyans or Ethiopians on the podium," Gault wrote.
This was the first time since the formation of the World Marathon Majors in 2006 in which a men's race featured no Kenyans or Ethiopians on the podium.
The American men had a day too. CITIUS MAG counted three in the top ten, with Zouhair Talbi sixth, Ahmed Muhumed seventh and Ryan Ford tenth.
McClain's 2:24:42 ends the American drought
Jess McClain ran 2:24:42 for second in the women's race, her first World Marathon Major podium. She is the first American to finish top three in New York since Shalane Flanagan in 2018, and CITIUS MAG says the result secures her an auto-qualifier for the 2028 Olympics.
Steve Magness wrote up how she got there, and the short version is that she left. McClain was a high school star, a multiple time all-american in college and a signed pro. In 2020 she walked away from professional running.
"There was a point earlier in my career where it was all about making the podiums and teams at all costs," McClain said in the quotes Magness published. She added that it becomes "a fun-sucker when it's all about pace and you're focusing on splits every 200 meters."
There was a point earlier in my career where it was all about making the podiums and teams at all costs.
She came back working a full time job. Magness quotes her saying she has lived with running as her full-time job and personally cannot operate in the sport in a healthy way that way, that she needs something else to focus on. The job was also insurance. She knew she could blow up and still have her job.
What it actually means is two separate stories landed on the same morning. Almgren's is the debut, a 2:06:01 first marathon from a man who has already said out loud he thinks he can eventually run 2:01. McClain's is the qualifier. Second place in New York puts her into the 2028 Olympic picture without needing to chase a standard, and she got there on a schedule that includes a day job.
Win the long run conversation
One email a day. Under three minutes. Marathon results, shoe fights and training arguments, settled.