The New York City Marathon has made history, officially setting a new world record for the most finishers in a marathon. On November 3, an astounding 55,646 runners completed the city’s iconic five-borough course, surpassing the previous record of 54,280 set by Berlin Marathon just weeks prior.
This year’s marathon season has seen impressive numbers across major races, with New York’s turnout leading the way.
The popularity of major marathons worldwide continues to grow. In April, Paris saw 54,175 finishers, a record for the city. New York’s latest achievement marks a significant leap from its 2019 high of 53,639 finishers.
This year’s event drew nearly 165,000 applications, making it the largest marathon in the world again.
This year’s race was also notable for its inclusivity and diversity. Of the 56,012 participants who started the race, 99.3 percent reached the finish line. The race set new records for female (24,731) and nonbinary (120) finishers. International participation remained high, with 17,859 runners from outside the United States finishing the course in Central Park.
In the elite women’s division, Kenya’s Sheila Chepkirui captured first place with a time of 2:24:35, edging out defending champion Hellen Obiri, who finished at 2:24:49.
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Obiri, a Boston Marathon winner and Olympic bronze medalist, delivered an exceptional race, followed by Kenya’s Vivian Cheruiyot in third place with 2:25:21. Top American Sara Vaughn, racing after recovering from COVID-19, placed sixth with 2:26:56.
The men’s race saw Dutch runner Abdi Nageeye triumph in 2:07:39, closely followed by 2022 winner Evans Chebet of Kenya (2:07:45) and 2021 winner Albert Korir (2:08:00).
Defending champion Tamirat Tola, the Olympic marathon gold medalist from Ethiopia, finished fourth at 2:08:50, while American Conner Mantz finished sixth with 2:09:00.
In the wheelchair division, Susannah Scaroni won the women’s race decisively with a time of 1:48:05, and Daniel Romanchuk earned his third New York title in the men’s division, finishing in 1:36:31.
Average finish times this year varied, with men at 4:17:47, women at 4:48:31, and nonbinary athletes at 4:38:46, resulting in an overall average of 4:31:31. The oldest finisher, 88-year-old Garth Barfoot of New Zealand, completed the marathon in 11:23:49, demonstrating the race’s wide appeal to all ages.
As the New York City Marathon celebrates its record-breaking year, it remains a powerful symbol in the world of long-distance running and a testament to the city’s energy, community, and global appeal.
