60,000 Runners Mark 50th Marathon
Sweden's Almgren won the men's race, while Brooklyn's Mile Nine party and Halloween costumes drew massive crowds to the 50th anniversary of the five-borough course.
By Tomas Gonzalez ·
Approximately 60,000 athletes completed the 2026 TCS New York City Marathon on Sunday, marking the 50th anniversary of the race's expansion to all five boroughs.
The course began on Staten Island, with runners crossing the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge before entering Brooklyn. The route proceeded through Bay Ridge, Sunset Park, Park Slope, Bedford Stuyvesant, and Williamsburg. From there, the path crossed the Pulaski Bridge into Queens, then the Bronx, and Manhattan before ending in Central Park.
Sweden's Andreas Almgren won the men's professional division in two hours, six minutes, and one second during his marathon debut. Kenya's Sheila Chepkirui claimed the women's title in two hours, 24 minutes, and 36 seconds, securing her second victory in the event within three years.
American runner Jess McClain finished second in the women's division. She is the first American woman to reach the podium in this race since 2018. In the wheelchair division, Switzerland's Marcel Hug won the men's title for the eighth time, while countrywoman Catherine Debrunner won the women's race.
Reality television personalities Kyle Fraser and Carl Radke also participated in the 26.2-mile event. Fraser ran for the Chelsea Piers Foundation alongside fellow "Survivor" cast member Mitch Guerra. Radke, who owns Greenpoint's Soft Bar & Cafe, represented Release Recovery, an organization focused on addiction treatment.
Radke finished his fourth marathon in three hours, 59 minutes, and 55 seconds. He stated that the course "will humble you" and that running the previous year's edition helped him build confidence. He reported crossing the finish line five seconds under his self-imposed goal of four hours.
Spectators lined the streets across the boroughs, many wearing costumes due to the race occurring one day after Halloween. In Clinton Hill, the annual Mile Nine party on Lafayette Avenue continued a tradition of more than two decades. Neighbors provided food and drinks to runners during the final miles of the race.
Comedian Tracy Morgan served as the race's grand marshal. Growing up across the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, he recalled watching the race from the 14th floor of Coney Island's Marlboro Houses as a child. Morgan said the role brought him close to tears and described the opportunity as an honor.
Wheelchair racer Brian Siemann, born in Brooklyn, placed 10th in his division. He noted that Brooklyn offers the longest stretch of the course in any single borough. Siemann credited his University of Illinois coaching team for his preparation and described the race as a chance to get better despite difficult conditions.
Crowds held signs with various messages, including references to Radke's television presence and humorous observations about the city. One spectator dressed as the house from Disney's film "Up" held a sign that read "Keep up." The event concluded with runners finishing in Central Park.
