The Swedish half-marathon star ran the third-fastest time in race history while Sheila Chepkirui outkicked fellow Kenyan Hellen Obiri for her second New York crown.
Andreas Almgren watched last year's New York City Marathon from the sidelines and decided on the spot he would run it himself. On Sunday he did more than just show up: the Swedish half-marathon star won the men's race in his debut at the 26.2-mile distance, finishing in 2 hours, 6 minutes and 1 second, the third-fastest time in the race's history.
Yemaneberhan Crippa of Italy, also making his New York debut, finished second, 13 seconds behind. Almgren said the win had been part of a long-term plan he started thinking through while watching the race from Brooklyn around Mile 8 last year. "Started talking about plans, my long-term plans, in my mind I thought it was a good plan," he said. "Here we are a year later and I won this race."
In the women's race, Sheila Chepkirui of Kenya reclaimed the title in a duel of past champions, pulling away from countrywoman Hellen Obiri in the final 150 meters. It was Chepkirui's second New York City Marathon win.