The final major of 2026 will come in the form of the biggest party in running as the New York City Marathon transforms the streets of all five boroughs and hosts deep fields of some of the top talents in the sport on Sunday.
For Benson Kipruto and Hellen Obiri, the mission is simple: defend and dominate as they both look to repeat as champions on the course where they soared to dramatic wins in 2025.
Last year, Kipruto battled fellow Kenyan Alexander Mutiso to the finish and needed every last stride to take the win as both crossed the line in 2:08:09. But Kipruto held the slight edge at three hundredths of a second in the tightest finish ever at the race and heads back to the scene of that win prepared to control the pace.
This weekend he hopes to have a clearer path in the closing stages and faces a loaded men’s group that includes Deresa Geleta, Geoffrey Kamworor, CyBrian Kotut, Zouhair Talbi, Abdi Nageeye and Conner Mantz.
Obiri led an all-Kenya podium in New York last year after pulling away late from Sharon Lokedi to grab the 2:19:51 course win — her second on the course — while a staked women’s field features Sheila Chepkirui, Viola Cheptoo, Edna Kiplagat, Mercy Chelangat and Jessica McClain.
Meanwhile, Marcel Hug and Susannah Scaroni look to follow the same script as Kipruto and Obiri in the men’s and women’s wheelchair divisions as they hope to repeat as winners, with Scaroni seeking her third straight win in New York.
Last year, Hug pulled off a commanding 1:30:16 win that was nearly four minutes faster than David Weir, who took second in 1:34:09, as Scaroni dominated in a 1:42:10 victory that was over five minutes ahead of Tatyana McFadden and Catherine Debrunner.
Around 60,000 participants are expected to travel by bus and ferry to the start village in Staten Island ahead of the start, with this year’s race having the distinction of being the 50th anniversary of its first running as a true all-city event.
In 1976, after a collaborative effort of planning between organizers and city officials, the marathon became a 26.2-mile celebration that saw the course touch all five boroughs before ending in Central Park, its original home.
Start times
All times Eastern – Sunday, November 1
8:00 a.m. – Men’s Elite Wheelchair Division
8:02 a.m. – Women’s Elite Wheelchair Division
8:22 a.m. – Handcycles, Select Athletes with Disabilities
8:35 a.m. – Professional Women’s Open Division
9:05 a.m. – Professional Men’s Open Division
9:10 a.m. – Wave 1
9:45 a.m. – Wave 2
10:20 a.m. – Wave 3
10:55 a.m. – Wave 4
11:30 a.m. – Wave 5
How To Watch
In New York, the race will be broadcast live on WABC-TV, Channel 7 from 8:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Viewers in the United States can watch live from 8:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on ESPN2. The broadcast will also be available live in Spanish on ESPN3.
Globally, tune into the following broadcasters from 8:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Eastern: Australia: Fox Sports Australia, Canada: TSN, China: SMG Sports, Europe: Eurosport, France: L’Equipe India: Eurosport, Italy: Il Corriere dello Sport, Japan: TV Asahi, Mexico and Central America: ESPN International, Middle East: Dubai Sports South America and the Caribbean: ESPN International,
Southeast Asia: Eurosport, Spain: RTVE and TV3 in the Catalonia region of Spain, Sub-Saharan Africa: SuperSport, Sweden: SVT
Elite Men’s Entries
Benson Kipruto (Kenya) – 2:02:16
Deresa Geleta (Ethiopia) – 2:02:38
CyBrian Kotut (Kenya) – 2:03:22
Zouhair Talbi (USA) – 2:03:45
Abdi Nageeye (Netherlands) – 2:04:20
Geoffrey Kamworor (Kenya) – 2:04:23
Conner Mantz (USA) – 2:04:43
Kengo Suzuki (Japan) – 2:04:56
Yemaneberhan Crippa (Italy) – 2:05:18
Edward Cheserek (Kenya) – 2:05:24
Ryota Kondo (Japan) – 2:05:39
Ryan Ford (USA) – 2:05:46
Joe Klecker (USA) – 2:05:56
Peter Lynch (Ireland) – 2:06:08
Patrick Dever (Great Britain) – 2:06:18
Haftu Strintzos (Australia) – 2:06:20
Jack Rowe (Great Britain) – 2:07:47
Kamohelo Mofolo (Lesotho) – 2:08:50
Sam Chelanga (USA) – 2:08:50
JP Flavin (USA) – 2:09:17
Turner Wiley (USA) – 2:09:27
Andrew Colley (USA) – 2:09:33
Robert Miranda (USA) – 2:09:40
Joel Reichow (USA) – 2:09:56
Aidan Troutner (USA) – 2:10:23
Stephen Jones (USA) – 2:11:17
Mo Bati (USA) – 2:12:29
Aidan Reed (USA) – 2:13:58
Owen Ritz (USA) – 2:14:19
James Nipperess (Australia) – 2:15:03
Merga Gemeda (USA) – 2:15:12
Alec Baldwin (USA) – 2:15:38
Ryan Cutter (USA) – 2:17:24
Andreas Almgren (Sweden) – Debut
Patrick Kiprop (Kenya) – Debut
Ahmed Muhumed (USA) – Debut
Elite Women’s Entries
Hellen Obiri (Kenya) – 2:15:53
Sheila Chepkirui (Kenya) – 2:17:29
Viola Cheptoo (Kenya) – 2:19:05
Edna Kiplagat (Kenya) – 2:19:50
Mercy Chelangat (Kenya) – 2:20:30
Jessica McClain (USA) – 2:20:49
Annie Frisbie (USA) – 2:22:00
Fabienne Königstein (Germany) – 2:22:17
Carrie Ellwood (USA) – 2:22:53
Giovanna Epis (Italy) – 2:23:46
Rie Kawauchi (Japan) – 2:24:16
Amanda Vestri (USA) – 2:24:49
Lauren Hagans (USA) – 2:25:47
Julia Paternain (Uruguay) – 2:25:47
Phily Bowden (Great Britain) – 2:25:57
Paige Wood (USA) – 2:26:02
Steph Bruce (USA) – 2:27:47
Roberta Groner (USA) – 2:29:09
Mica Rivera Wood (Peru) – 2:29:13
Megan O’Neil (USA) – 2:31:31
Monica Hebner (USA) – 2:32:40
Brooke Starn (USA) – 2:35:22
Alosha Southern (USA) – 2:36:10
Keelah Barger (USA) – 2:36:13
Maddie Block (USA) – 2:36:25
Cailie Hughes (USA) – Debut
Weini Kelati (USA) – Debut
Men’s Wheelchair
Marcel Hug (Switzerland) – 1:15:33
Josh Cassidy (Canada) – 1:18:25
Aaron Pike (USA) – 1:20:02
JohnBoy Smith (Great Britain) – 1:20:05
Daniel Romanchuk (USA) – 1:20:37
David Weir (Great Britain) – 1:22:12
Patrick Monahan (Ireland) – 1:22:23
Miguel Jimenez Vergara (USA) – 1:22:24
Tomoki Suzuki (Japan) – 1:22:55
Sho Watanabe (Japan) – 1:24:00
Jetze Plat (Netherlands) – 1:24:28
Brian Siemann (USA) – 1:26:46
Evan Correll (USA) – 1:27:19
Jason Robinson (USA) – 1:29:01
Simon Lawson (Great Britain) – 1:25:06
Lito Anker (Netherlands) — 1:33:53
Rob Smith (Great Britain) – 1:55:51
Norbert Holowat (USA) – 2:13:16
Women’s Wheelchair
Susannah Scaroni (USA) – 1:27:31
Tatyana McFadden (USA) – 1:31:30
Catherine Debrunner (Switzerland) – 1:34:16
Eden Rainbow-Cooper (Great Britain) – 1:34:17
Madison de Rozario (Australia) – 1:38:11
Vanessa de Souza (Brazil) – 1:39:55
Patricia Eachus (Switzerland) – 1:40:00
Emelia Perry (USA) – 1:43:50
Hoda Elshorbagy (Egypt) – 1:45:17
Michelle Wheeler (USA) – 1:45:59
Hannah Dederick (USA) – 1:47:18
