NYC Marathon Draws Record Field for 50Th Anniversary Run

WHO:

ABC7 New York - Approximately 60,000 runners are taking part in the 2026 TCS New York City Marathon.

ABC7 New York - The professional field includes 40 Olympians and Paralympians, 25 Olympic, Paralympic and World Championship medalists, and 22 national record holders.

ABC7 New York - Defending champions Benson Kipruto and Marcel Hug headline the professional field.

ABC7 New York - Two-time champion Hellen Obiri is seeking to defend her title. Her challengers include 2024 champion Sheila Chepkirui, three-time Olympic champion Sifan Hassan, and American runners Weini Kelati, Jess McClain, and Fiona O’Keeffe. Kelati holds the American half-marathon record and is making her marathon debut.

ABC7 New York - The men’s field includes former champions Geoffrey Kamworor and Abdi Nageeye, as well as American contenders Conner Mantz, Zouhair Talbi, and Joe Klecker.

ABC7 New York - Wheelchair competitors include seven-time New York champion Marcel Hug and former winners Daniel Romanchuk and David Weir. Tatyana McFadden, Catherine Debrunner, and Madison de Rozario lead the women’s field.

ABC7 New York - Two-time defending wheelchair champion Susannah Scaroni is seeking a third consecutive title after giving birth to her first child less than three months earlier. McFadden, seeking her sixth New York Marathon title and 25th overall, said, “It's crazy. I'm excited for her. I think it's wonderful to see, you know, women, and mothers coming back and racing. We need more support around that and more encouragement.”

ABC7 New York - Eyewitness News anchors Liz Cho and Mike Marza are running for the Alzheimer's Association in honor of Bill Ritter, who left the anchor desk after revealing his Alzheimer’s diagnosis.

Gothamist - Sarah Agrusa plans to cheer at multiple points along the route for her boyfriend, who is running the race for the first time; she will bring her dog, Ollie.

WHAT:

ABC7 New York - The marathon’s 50th anniversary five-borough course is expected to host a record field of about 60,000 runners.

ABC7 New York - Obiri set the women’s course record of 2:19:51, nearly three minutes faster than the previous record, set by Margaret Okayo.

ABC7 New York - Kipruto won the previous year’s race by the slimmest margin in its history.

NY Post - More than 60,000 runners gathered for the marathon.

WHERE:

Gothamist - The race starts on Staten Island, passes through Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx, and finishes in Central Park in Manhattan.

ABC7 New York - Millions of spectators line the route from Staten Island to Central Park.

WHEN:

ABC7 New York - The 2026 marathon is scheduled for Sunday, November 1. Channel 7 and ESPN2 coverage begins at 7:00 a.m.; live race coverage begins at 8:00 a.m.

ABC7 New York - The New York City Marathon began in 1970, with its first six editions held entirely in Central Park.

ABC7 New York - Ritter stepped away from the anchor desk in June.

WHY:

ABC7 New York - Cho and Marza are running in support of the Alzheimer’s Association and in honor of Ritter.

HOW:

ABC7 New York - The race’s five-borough course carries runners from Staten Island through Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx to Central Park in Manhattan.

About 60,000 runners are tackling New York City’s five-borough marathon course. Defending champions Benson Kipruto and Marcel Hug headline a star-studded professional field. Millions of spectators line the route, which finishes in Manhattan’s Central Park.