On August 19 (Beijing time), the 2026 New York Marathon announced its elite field.

On the men's side the field is led by defending champion and North America-dominating Kenyan Benson Kipruto (2:02:16). Last year in New York he edged Mutiso by 0.03 seconds at the line—the smallest winning margin in the race’s history—becoming the first athlete to win all of the North American World Marathon Majors.

Besides Kipruto, other runners with PBs under 2:04 include 2025 Tokyo Marathon runner-up Ethiopian Deresa Greta (2:02:38), 2025 Boston Marathon third-place Zibrian Kottut (2:03:22), and Zuhair Talbi (2:03:45), who posted the fastest time by an American at this year’s Boston.

Kipruto will also face two other former New York champions — two-time New York winner Geoffrey Kamworor (2:04:23) and 2024 New York Marathon champion Abdi Nageeye (2:04:20).

U.S. national record-holder Conner Mantz (2:04:43) will make his first race back from injury, and it will be his return to New York after two years.

Following March’s Tokyo Marathon, former Japanese No.1 Kengo Suzuki (2:04:56) will contest his second World Marathon Major of the year and make his New York debut. Japan’s former marathon record-holder Ryota Kondo (2:05:39) will also take to the New York course.

The entries also include Sweden’s Andreas Almgren, who will make his 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 and Kenyan star Hellen Obiri (2:15:53) returns — last year she ran a stunning 2:19:51 to shatter a women’s course record that had stood for 22 years.

Obiri’s biggest threat comes from Dutch star Sifan Hassan (2:13:44). At 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 third-place Sheila Chepkirui (2:17:29), Eugene World Championships marathon champion Gotytom Gebreselase (2:18:11), 2021 New York runner-up Viola Cheptoo, and 46-year-old Kenyan veteran Edna Kiplagat (2:19:50).

As the season-ending World Marathon Majors race, the 2026 New York Marathon will gun off on November 1 — marking the event’s 50th anniversary. What stories will the 50th New York Marathon produce? Let’s look forward to it.