Watch the 2026 TCS NYC Marathon on Sunday starting with the pre-show at 7:00 a.m. on Channel 7
Sunday, November 1, 2026 11:07AM
NEW YORK CITY (WABC) -- A record 60,000 runners are expected to step up to the starting line for the 2026 TCS New York City Marathon on Sunday.
The New York City Marathon began in 1970, and the first six years were run inside Central Park doing loops.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the iconic five-borough course that transformed the event from a local road race into one of the world's premier sporting spectacles. Millions of spectators will line the streets from Staten Island to Central Park.
Two-time champion Hellen Obiri returns to defend her title a year after she broke the women's course record in 2 hours, 19 minutes, 51 seconds. That was nearly three minutes faster then the previous best set in 2003 by Margaret Okayo.
Defending champions Benson Kipruto and Marcel Hug also headline a star-studded professional field that includes 40 Olympians and Paralympians, 25 Olympic, Paralympic and World Championship medalists, and 22 national record holders.
Obiri will face a formidable challenge from 2024 champion Sheila Chepkirui, three-time Olympic champion Sifan Hassan, and one of the strongest American contingents ever assembled. Leading that group is American half marathon record holder Weini Kelati, who will make her highly anticipated marathon debut alongside Jess McClain and Fiona O'Keeffe.
The men's field promises another showdown after Kipruto captured last year's title by the slimmest margin in race history. Former champions Geoffrey Kamworor and Abdi Nageeye return, while top American hopes rest with Conner Mantz, Zouhair Talbi and Joe Klecker.
The wheelchair divisions are equally loaded. Seven-time New York champion Marcel Hug will look to extend his dominance against former winners Daniel Romanchuk and David Weir, while Tatyana McFadden, Catherine Debrunner and Madison de Rozario headline a women's field packed with championship pedigree.
Two-time defending wheelchair champion Susannah Scaroni will look for her third straight title nearly three months after giving birth to her first child.
The fact that she's competing left fellow wheelchair racer Tatyana McFadden in awe.
"It's crazy," said McFadden, who is looking for her sixth New York Marathon title and 25th overall. "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."
Dozens of celebrities are also participating, including Eyewitness News anchors Liz Cho and Mike Marza, who will be running in support of the Alzheimer's Association in honor of Bill Ritter, who stepped away from the anchor desk in June after revealing his Alzheimer's disease diagnosis.
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Some information from the Associated Press.
To learn more about the 2026 TCS New York City Marathon, click here. Find more coverage from Eyewitness News at abc7ny.com/nycmarathon.
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