“Final Finishers,” a film from New York Road Runners, was honored Wednesday with its first national sports Emmy nomination in the Outstanding Sports Documentary Short category.
The 2025 film put a human spotlight on some of the last people to cross the finish line at the New York City Marathon and the separate journeys that brought them to the start line on race day — with the participants finishing into the night hours after the early waves in what has now become a celebration in Central Park.
“This nomination is an incredible honor for New York Road Runners and a testament to the power of storytelling to embody our nonprofit mission of transforming lives through movement,” New York Road Runners CEO Rob Simmelkjaer said. “‘Final Finishers’ reflects our commitment to telling the full breadth of the running experience, spotlighting the everyday athletes whose journeys are just as inspiring as the champions. We’re proud to see this story recognized on a national stage.”
The film is the first from NYRR’s in-house content studio East 89th St Productions and was produced and distributed in partnership with Tribeca Studios.
Directed by two-time Emmy Award-winner Rudy Valdez, “Final Finishers” takes the lens far away from the elite athletes on marathon day and draws from the experiences of people who run the same course but have found the drive to overcome more than just covering 26.2 miles.
Martinus Evans, Janelle Hartman, Michael Ring and Latoya Snell make up a cast of marathoners who head into the race knowing that the early morning trek to the start village in Staten Island is only part of the story. And by night, they cover numerous neighborhoods, absorb the energy of the massive crowds along the route and enjoy a party-like atmosphere in Central Park with fellow final finishers.
Other nominees in the Outstanding Sports Documentary Short category include: “Home Turn” from NASCAR Productions and Bluefoot Entertainment, “NFL Explained: Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show” from the NFL Media Group, “NFL Films Presents The Arctic Challenge” from FS1 and NFL Films and “The Shuffle” from HBO Max and NFL Films.
Winners of the Sports Emmy Awards will be announced on May 26 in in New York City.
