60,000 Runners Set for 50th Anniversary of NYC Marathon Course
Hellen Obiri defends her title alongside a record field that includes 40 Olympians and Paralympians.
By Adewale Fletcher ·
The 2026 TCS New York City Marathon will welcome a record 60,000 participants to the starting line this Sunday. The event marks a half-century milestone for the race, specifically commemorating the 50th anniversary of the five-borough course.
The marathon launched in 1970. For the first six years, runners completed loops within Central Park. The shift to the current multi-borough route transformed the local road race into a global sporting event. Millions of spectators are expected to line the streets from Staten Island to Central Park on Sunday.
Hellen Obiri returns to defend her women's title. She set the course record last year with a time of 2 hours, 19 minutes, and 51 seconds. That mark was nearly three minutes faster than the previous best, which Margaret Okayo established in 2003.
The professional field includes Benson Kipruto, who won the men's title last year by the slimmest margin in race history, and Marcel Hug, a seven-time wheelchair champion. The roster features 40 Olympians and Paralympians, 25 medalists from major championships, and 22 national record holders.
Obiri faces competition from 2024 champion Sheila Chepkirui and three-time Olympic gold medalist Sifan Hassan. The American contingent includes half marathon record holder Weini Kelati, who will make her marathon debut. She runs alongside Jess McClain and Fiona O'Keeffe.
In the wheelchair divisions, Susannah Scaroni seeks her third consecutive title. She is competing nearly three months after giving birth to her first child. Tatyana McFadden, who is aiming for her sixth New York title and 25th overall, commented on Scaroni's return. McFadden 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."
Eyewitness News anchors Liz Cho and Mike Marza will also participate. They are running in support of the Alzheimer's Association to honor Bill Ritter, who stepped away from the anchor desk in June after disclosing his diagnosis.
