Defending Champions Return to 2026 NYC Marathon
Reigning champions Hellen Obiri and Benson Kipruto will defend their titles at the 2026 NYC Marathon, facing strong competition from other elite runners
The 2026 NYC Marathon is set to feature a star-studded field, with both the women's and men's reigning champions, Hellen Obiri and Benson Kipruto, returning to defend their titles. Obiri, who won last year's race in a course-record time, will face a strong challenge from 2024 Olympic gold medalist Sifan Hassan, while Kipruto will compete against a field that includes 2:02 marathoner Deresa Geleta and Abdi Nageeye, who won the race in 2024.
Elite Field Announced
The New York Road Runners announced the elite field for the 2026 NYC Marathon, which includes a number of top runners from around the world. Obiri, who has won the race twice, will be looking to make it three wins in a row, while Kipruto will be seeking to repeat his thrilling victory from last year.
The women's field will also feature American runners Jess McClain, Fiona O'Keeffe, and Annie Frisbie, who will be competing against a strong international field. McClain, who demolished the American course record in Boston, will be looking to build on her recent success, while O'Keeffe and Frisbie will be seeking to improve on their top-four and fifth-place finishes from last year.
American Record Holder to Make Marathon Debut
One of the biggest storylines of the 2026 NYC Marathon will be the marathon debut of American record holder Weini Kelati. Kelati, who holds the American record in the half marathon, will be making her highly anticipated debut in the marathon, and will be looking to make a strong impression. She will be competing against a strong field of American women, including McClain, O'Keeffe, and Frisbie.
The men's American field will be led by Conner Mantz and Zouhair Talbi, who will be competing against a strong international field. Mantz, who broke the American record at the 2025 Chicago Marathon, will be looking to build on his recent success, while Talbi, who has been red-hot this year, will be seeking to continue his winning streak.
| Runner | Time |
|---|---|
| Hellen Obiri | 2:19:51 |
| Sifan Hassan | |
| Benson Kipruto | 2:08:09 |
| Deresa Geleta | 2:02 |
| Abdi Nageeye | |
| Jess McClain | 2:20:49 |
| Fiona O'Keeffe | |
| Annie Frisbie | |
| Weini Kelati | 1:06:04 |
| Conner Mantz | 2:04:43 |
| Zouhair Talbi | 2:03:45 |
Battle for the Top Spot
The 2026 NYC Marathon is set to be a highly competitive race, with a number of top runners competing for the top spot. The men's and women's fields will be led by a number of strong international and American runners, and the competition is expected to be fierce. With the defending champions returning to defend their titles, and a number of other top runners competing, the 2026 NYC Marathon is set to be an exciting and unpredictable race.
