Andreas Almgren conquers New York as European distance running shines at TCS New York City Marathon

Andreas Almgren produced the performance of his career to win the men’s race at the TCS New York City Marathon on November 1, storming through the streets of the five boroughs in 2:06:01 to claim one of the most prestigious marathon victories in the world.

The Swedish star emerged victorious from a tightly contested battle that featured a remarkably deep international field and a dramatic fight for every position inside the top ten. Almgren’s winning time of 2:06:01 was enough to hold off Italy’s Yemaneberhan Crippa, who crossed the finish line 13 seconds later in 2:06:14. Lesotho’s Kamohelo Mofolo completed the podium with an impressive 2:06:26.

The race remained open well into the latter stages, with several athletes still in contention as the leaders navigated the demanding New York City course. Almgren ultimately proved the strongest when it mattered most, producing a decisive closing effort to separate himself from his closest rivals and seal a memorable triumph.

For Almgren, the victory represents a landmark achievement. Long regarded as one of Europe’s most talented distance runners, he added a major marathon crown to his growing résumé by mastering both the challenging course and the intense tactical nature of championship-style racing. Winning in New York requires more than raw speed; athletes must manage rolling hills, changing race rhythms and relentless pressure from world-class competitors. Almgren handled those challenges expertly from start to finish.

Behind him, Crippa delivered another outstanding performance. The Italian distance-running standout remained in contention throughout the race and finished strongly to secure second place in 2:06:14. Although he fell short of victory, Crippa once again demonstrated why he has become one of Europe’s leading marathoners, producing a performance that would have been good enough to win many editions of the race.

Mofolo completed the podium in 2:06:26, capping a breakthrough result on one of the sport’s biggest stages. The South African runner showed both patience and resilience, staying connected to the lead group before securing third place in a highly competitive finish.

Just one second behind Mofolo came Kenya’s Benson Kipruto, who narrowly missed the podium after clocking 2:06:27. Kipruto has established himself as one of the most consistent marathon performers in recent years, and his fourth-place finish highlighted the incredibly small margins separating the leading contenders. Only 26 seconds covered the first four athletes across the finish line.

Australia’s Haftu Strintzos rounded out the top five in 2:06:34, continuing his rise in international road racing. Strintzos remained within striking distance of the leaders throughout much of the contest and produced a strong run to secure a place among the event’s elite performers.

Morocco’s Zouhair Talbi was next home in sixth, stopping the clock at 2:06:43. Talbi delivered a controlled and composed effort to remain competitive from the opening miles to the finish, further underlining the global nature of the field.

Japan’s Ryota Kondo claimed seventh place in 2:07:08, becoming the final athlete to finish within 68 seconds of the winner. Kondo’s performance demonstrated the strength of Japanese marathon running on the world stage and earned him a well-deserved top-ten finish in one of the sport’s premier events.

The battle for the remaining top-ten positions was equally intense. Ahmed Muhumed finished eighth in 2:07:09, recording exactly the same time as ninth-place Geoffrey Kamworor. Despite sharing identical official times, Muhumed was awarded the higher placing, with Kamworor finishing just fractions of a second behind after more than two hours of racing.

Kamworor’s ninth-place result may not have matched the expectations often associated with the accomplished Kenyan distance-running star, but his presence added significant quality and experience to the field. His duel with Muhumed provided one of the closest finishes of the day.

Completing the top ten was Ryan Ford, who crossed the line in 2:07:17. Ford’s determined run ensured that ten athletes finished within just 76 seconds of Almgren’s winning mark, emphasizing the exceptional depth of this year’s race.

The men’s competition showcased the increasingly international character of marathon racing. Athletes representing Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia and North America all featured prominently near the front, creating a truly global contest befitting the stature of the TCS New York City Marathon.

When the dust settled, however, the day belonged to Andreas Almgren. His winning performance of 2:06:01 combined tactical intelligence, endurance and finishing speed, enabling him to withstand sustained challenges from Crippa, Mofolo and the rest of a world-class field. In doing so, he etched his name into New York City Marathon history and delivered a victory that will be remembered as one of the defining moments of his career.