New York (AFP) – The New York marathon celebrates a great anniversary on Sunday: the 50th anniversary of a legendary route which connects the five “boroughs” of the Big Apple, with a fine line-up of favorites for the occasion.
Published on: 01/11/2026 - 07:41
The race was born on September 13, 1970, but the course was then confined to Central Park, in the heart of Manhattan.
Six years later, in 1976, the marathon left the green lung of the megacity and the organizers made the crazy bet of connecting the five boroughs of New York: Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Manhattan.
A brilliant idea, which has transformed the race into an unmissable event over the years.
Around 60,000 runners are expected on Sunday for a major popular celebration in the largest city in the United States, with more than two million spectators to cheer them on.
During the first edition, there were 127 people who paid one dollar to register to try to finish the four loops in Central Park. Only 55 had succeeded and Gary Muhrcke, a New York firefighter, won the first event, just out of his night shift.
The Almgren curiosity
Beautiful names will try to imitate it this year.
Among the men, the Kenyan Benson Kipruto, winner last year after a spectacular finish, will do everything to repeat the feat.
The bronze medalist of the Paris 2024 Games will face the Ethiopian Deresa Geleta, the Kenyan CyBrian Kotut or even former winners like Geoffrey Kamworor, chasing an incredible hat-trick after his victories in 2017 and 2019, or the Dutchman Abdi Nageeye (2024).
The American chances lie in Conner Mantz and Zouhair Talbi.
The latter are not looking for a record in this last major marathon of the year - the hilly course and the absence of pace leaders make New York a traditionally slower race -, but the prestige of a victory at the end of an event which promises to be tactical.
The spotlight will also be on a curiosity: Andreas Almgren. The Swede, one of the best European cross-country skiers, will make his debut in New York.
The recent half-marathon world champion has adapted his training program, with a higher load and more long outings, as well as an altitude training course in Flagstaff, in the western United States.
Among the women, Hellen Obiri, crowned last year in record time on the course (2h19:51) will try, at 36, to retain her throne.
The Kenyan athlete, already winner in 2023, will have to get rid of her compatriot Sheila Chepkirui, the winner of 2024, who climbed to the third step of the podium last year.
The Americans Jessica McClain, Annie Frisbie, Weini Kelati, and the Uruguayan Julia Paternain will also be ones to watch.
But with the absence of Sifan Hassan, the Olympic marathon champion in Paris, Hellen Obiri remains the big favorite and will be keen to cross the bumps of Central Park to cross the finish line alone in the lead for a second time in a row.
© 2026 AFP
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