Andreas Almgren won the New York City Marathon in his debut at the distance, finishing in 2:06:01. The Swede became the first European man to win the race since Giacomo Leone in 1996. He took the lead for the first time just before 40K and ran alone to the finish.
Yeman Crippa of Italy was second in 2:06:14. Kamohelo Mofolo of Lesotho passed defending champion Benson Kipruto in the final meters to take third in a personal best of 2:06:26, one second ahead of Kipruto.
Zouhair Talbi was the top U.S. finisher in sixth at 2:06:43. Ahmed Muhumed, in his debut marathon, was seventh in 2:07:02 as the second American. Ryan Ford placed 10th in 2:07:17 as the third U.S. finisher, and Conner Mantz was 11th in 2:07:27 in his first marathon since setting the U.S. record in Chicago last year.
Almgren entered with strong track and road credentials. He won bronze at 10,000 meters at last year's world championships and won the world half marathon championship six weeks ago in a national record of 58:06. He also has an 800-meter best of 1:45, a time none of his competitors has run.
The race stayed together for much of the way, with 15 men bunched at 35K. Kipruto's 4:38 24th mile split the lead group, leaving him with Almgren and Crippa. Almgren, who trains by kilometers, waited until just before 40K to move ahead. Crippa stayed with him for another kilometer, but as Crippa looked back on Central Park South, Almgren surged again and ran unchallenged to the line.
Asked whether the moderate early pace suited him, Almgren said, "Kinda, but not really. I mean, this is my first marathon. I don't really know how it's supposed to feel at those different points." He also said that at 20 miles he felt tired, but a few minutes later found it easier to respond to moves, thinking, "Okay, this might be my day."
Almgren had scouted last year's race from three spots: mile 8 in Brooklyn, the 17th mile on First Avenue in Manhattan, and near the finish in Central Park. That evening he texted his manager that he wanted to race this year. The win earned him $100,000, while Crippa and Mofolo received $60,000 and $40,000. Talbi earned $25,000 as the top U.S. finisher.
Mofolo's third place came on his 21st birthday. He debuted at Cape Town in May, placing 11th in 2:08:50, and ran aggressively in New York, briefly taking a solo lead around the 20-mile mark. The leaders passed halfway between 64:01 and 64:04, but the finishing times reshaped the event's all-time list: Almgren's 2:06:01 ties the fourth fastest in race history, and Crippa, Mofolo, Kipruto, Haftu Strintzos (fifth in 2:06:34) and Talbi are now in the top ten.
Sources: Runner's World.