Beijing time, August 19, 2026 — the New York Marathon announced its elite roster. On the men's side, the field is led by defending champion and North American dominator, Kenyan Benson Kipruto (2:02:16). Last year in New York he edged out Mutiso at the finish by just 0.03 seconds — the smallest margin in the event's history — becoming the first athlete to win all North American major marathons. Other athletes with PBs under 2:04 include 2025 Tokyo Marathon runner-up, Ethiopian Deresa Gretta (2:02:38), 2025 Boston Marathon third-place Cyprian Kotut (2:03:22), and Zouhair Talbi, who posted the fastest time by an American at Boston this year (2:03:45). Kipruto will also face challenges from two other former New York champions — two-time NYC winner Geoffrey Kamworor (2:04:23) and the 2024 New York Marathon champion Abdi Nageeye (2:04:20). U.S. national record holder Conner Mantz (2:04:43) will make his comeback race after injury, and this will be his first return to New York in two years. Following the Tokyo Marathon in March, former Japanese ace Kengo Suzuki (2:04:56) will contest his second major of the year and make his New York debut. Japan’s former full-marathon record holder Ryota Kondo (2:05:39) will also take to the NYC course. The list also includes Sweden’s Andreas Almgren, who will make his full marathon debut in New York. Last week he won the 10,000m title at the European Championships, and last year he set a European half-marathon record of 58:41 in Valencia. On the women's side, two-time New York champion Kenyan Hellen Obiri (2:15:53) returns; last year she ran a stunning 2:19:51 to dramatically break a 22-year-old course record. Obiri’s biggest threat comes from Dutch star Sifan Hassan (2:13:44). In the 2025 New York Marathon she finished sixth in 2:24:43. After withdrawing from London earlier this year with an Achilles injury, New York will be her first marathon back. Also among women with PBs under 2:20 are 2024 champion and 2025 runner-up Sheila Chepkirui (2:17:29), Eugene World Championships women’s marathon champion Gotytom Gebreselassie (2:18:11), 2021 New York women’s runner-up Viola Cheptoo, and 46-year-old Kenyan veteran Edna Kiplagat (2:19:50). As the concluding major of the year, the 2026 New York Marathon will gun off on November 1, 2026. It’s the race’s 50th anniversary — what stories will unfold? Let’s look forward to it! #New York Marathon #Sifan Hassan #Trail Running Boom #marathon