Andreas Almgren Wins New York Marathon in Fastest-Ever Debut, 2:06:01

Andreas Almgren’s first marathon became a test of patience before it became a display of speed. The Swedish runner stayed near the front through a long, crowded middle section, then produced the decisive move in Central Park to win the TCS New York City Marathon in 2:06:01. That time equaled the fourth-fastest ever recorded on the course.

The result delivered on the attention surrounding Almgren’s debut at 26.2 miles. He arrived in New York after winning the half-marathon at the World Road Running Championships in Copenhagen in September, adding to a run of major results that had made him one of the race’s most closely watched entrants. His victory came with a $100,000 prize.

A patient race through the middle miles

New York’s hilly course kept the early pace measured. The leaders passed 5K in 15:30 and 10K in 30:52, both slower than a 2:10 marathon pace. Italy’s Yeman Crippa briefly lifted the tempo in the 11th mile, but the move didn’t break up the group.

Zouhair Talbi made a more sustained attempt to change the rhythm. The American reached halfway in 1:04:01, about three seconds ahead of a pack of roughly 20 runners that included Almgren, defending champion Benson Kipruto, American recordholder Conner Mantz, Ryan Ford, Lesotho’s Kamohelo Mofolo and two-time winner Geoffrey Kamworor.

Talbi had reasons to prefer a faster contest: he won the Houston Marathon in January in 2:05:45, then finished fifth in Boston in April in 2:03:45. “I knew I had more advantage if the race goes fast,” he said. His push shook the pace, but it didn’t persuade the leading contenders to commit to a long break.

Seventeen men remained together through 18 miles. That depth made the race hard to read: each surge could be answered, while the hills and pace changes gave the field little room to settle. Around 20 miles, Almgren began to feel the strain. He expected to feel fresher with 10K left, he said, but fatigue lifted as the pace rose again. The quick change in his sensations surprised him.

Almgren finds the winning gear

Kipruto moved to the front in the 23rd mile as runners began to lose contact. Mantz was among those slipping back. The decisive group formed shortly afterward, when Almgren, Kipruto, Crippa and Talbi separated from the rest as they entered Central Park for the first time.

At 40K, the clock read 2:00:00 after a 14:27 segment over the previous 5K. Talbi started to fall away. Almgren and Crippa then used a 4:32 25th mile to drop Kipruto, setting up a two-man fight for the win.

As the course left the park briefly and ran along Central Park South, Almgren launched the finishing surge that had carried him to the world half-marathon title. Crippa, who won the Paris Marathon in April with a personal best of 2:05:18, couldn’t match it. Almgren crossed first in 2:06:01; Crippa followed in 2:06:14.

Almgren said he hadn’t been checking his watch or calculating a finishing time. His focus was to stay with the leaders and see how the race unfolded. That approach fit New York’s demands: with the course and the large pack discouraging an early time trial, he kept himself in position for the late move that mattered.

A debut backed by years of progression

The win extends a career that has moved steadily up in distance. Almgren, 31, won bronze in the 800 at the 2014 World Junior Championships and spent years establishing himself among the world’s best runners. Injuries had disrupted his performances at major international meets, but he won bronze in the 10,000 at the 2025 World Championships and dominated the same event at the European Championships that summer.

He had never run farther than 32K before September. Almgren said he felt some uncertainty on the start line, but his preparation gave him confidence in how well he could handle demanding long runs and recover from them. His New York performance suggests he adapted quickly to the distance, even when fatigue arrived earlier than expected.

Mofolo produced a late pass on Kipruto to take third in 2:06:26, just one second ahead of the defending champion. Australian Haftu Strintzos placed fifth in 2:06:34. Talbi finished sixth in 2:06:43, the fastest time ever by an American man in the New York race. He said that, for the first time in a major marathon, he felt he had a chance to win with two miles remaining. He plans to return to training with the aim of getting faster.

Ahmed Muhumed was eighth in 2:07:09, Ford took 10th in 2:07:17, and Mantz finished 11th in 2:07:27. Talbi represented Morocco at the 2024 Olympics and is now a U.S. citizen; he’ll be eligible to represent Team USA in August 2027.

New York City Marathon men’s results

New York City, New York, November 01

1. Andreas Almgren (Swe), 2:06:01; 2. Yeman Crippa (Ita), 2:06:14; 3. Kamohelo Mofolo (Les), 2:06:26; 4. Benson Kipruto (Ken), 2:06:27; 5. Haftu Strintzos (Aus), 2:06:34; 6. Zouhair Talbi (US), 2:06:43; 7. Ryota Kondo (Jpn), 2:07:08; 8. Ahmed Muhumed (US), 2:07:09; 9. Geoffrey Kamworor (Ken), 2:07:09; 10. Ryan Ford (US), 2:07:17.

11. Conner Mantz (US), 2:07:27; 12. Cybrian Kotut (Ken), 2:07:42; 13. Abdi Nageeye (Neth), 2:07:58; 14. Aidan Troutner (US), 2:08:54; 15. Joe Klecker (US), 2:09:28; 16. Joel Reichow (US), 2:09:43; 17. Patrick Dever (GB), 2:09:53; 18. Patrick Kiprop (Ken), 2:10:01; 19. Peter Lynch (Ire), 2:10:03; 20. Merga Gemeda (US), 2:10:32; 21. Andrew Colley (US), 2:10:49.

Almgren’s debut didn’t hinge on an early break or a calculated time target. He stayed close enough to respond when the race finally opened, then made the last acceleration decisive. That combination of patience and closing speed is the clearest sign that his move to the marathon is already a serious one.