67 Fun Facts About New York City Marathon

Who won the men's race at the 2024 New York City Marathon?

Abdi Nageeye of the Netherlands won the 2024 men's race in 2:07:39, pulling away from Evans Chebet in the final mile through Central Park.

How many runners finished the first New York City Marathon in 1970?

Just 55 runners finished the inaugural race, run as several loops of Central Park's Park Drive with a $1 entry fee and a budget of about $1,000.

Who won the New York City Marathon men's race in both 2017 and 2019?

Geoffrey Kamworor, a multiple world half-marathon champion, won the men's race in 2017 and returned to win again in 2019.

Who was the only woman to enter the first New York City Marathon in 1970?

Nina Kuscsik was the lone woman among the inaugural entrants; a stomach virus forced her out before the finish, but she returned to win the race in 1972 and 1973.

The 'NYC Six' protested a 1972 rule requiring women to start how long before the men?

The AAU rule made women start ten minutes before the men; the protesters sat at the line for those ten minutes, then ran with the men, and the rule was dropped later that year.

Who won the women's race at the first five-borough marathon in 1976?

Miki Gorman, who took up running in her thirties, won the 1976 women's race in 2:39:11.

Kathrine Switzer became the first officially registered woman to run which race in 1967?

Kathrine Switzer ran the 1967 Boston Marathon as registered entrant K. V. Switzer; race official Jock Semple tried to rip off her bib, number 261, mid-race.

Which Ethiopian woman won the 2009 New York City Marathon?

Derartu Tulu, twice an Olympic 10,000 m champion, won the 2009 women's race in 2:28:52 at the age of 37.

Who won the first five-borough marathon in 1976 in a course-record 2:10:10?

Bill Rodgers won the first five-borough race in 2:10:10, finishing well clear of Olympic silver medalist Frank Shorter; it was the first of his four straight New York titles.

Dick Traum made history at the 1976 race by becoming the first person to complete a marathon with what?

Dick Traum, who lost a leg after being hit by a car, completed the 1976 race on a prosthetic leg, the first amputee to finish it; he founded the Achilles Track Club in 1983.

Which Norwegian broke the women's world record in her 1978 New York debut with 2:32:30?

Grete Waitz, a track specialist making her marathon debut, ran 2:32:30 in 1978, more than two minutes under the previous women's world best.

Who won the women's race in both 2005 and 2006?

Jelena Prokopcuka of Latvia won the women's race in 2005 in 2:24:41 and defended her title in 2006.

In 1979 the reigning women's champion became the first woman to break what barrier in the marathon?

The reigning champion ran 2:27:33 in 1979, the first time any woman had broken 2:30 in a marathon.

Rosie Ruiz's mistaken 1979 New York finish time qualified her for which race, where her fraud was exposed?

Rosie Ruiz's 2:56:29 from New York got her into the 1980 Boston Marathon, where she was declared women's winner before officials found she had not run the full course of either race.

Alberto Salazar's 2:09:41 win in 1980 was notable at the time as what?

Alberto Salazar's 2:09:41 in 1980 was the fastest marathon debut by an American; he beat Rodolfo Gómez of Mexico by about half a minute.

Why was Alberto Salazar's 1981 'world best' of 2:08:13 later rescinded?

A 1985 remeasurement found the course was measured about 150 metres short, so Salazar's 2:08:13 was removed from the record books and Rob de Castella's 2:08:18 was recognised instead.

In 1983 Rod Dixon of New Zealand caught which Englishman at the 26-mile mark to win by nine seconds?

Geoff Smith, who had led for most of the race, was passed by Rod Dixon inside the final 400 metres and collapsed across the line moments after Dixon finished.

Orlando Pizzolato won the hot 1984 race despite stopping how many times with heat cramps?

Orlando Pizzolato stopped six times with heat cramps in the final miles of the 1984 race and yet won in 2:14:53, his first of two straight titles.

From 1984 to 1986 the men's winner came from which country three years running?

Italy took the men's title in each of those years: Orlando Pizzolato won twice and Gianni Poli followed with a 2:11:06 victory.

Who in 1987 became the first African man to win the New York City Marathon?

Ibrahim Hussein, a University of New Mexico graduate, won the 1987 men's race in 2:11:01, the first African man to take the title.

In 1992 the nine-time women's champion ran the whole race beside founder Fred Lebow to mark what?

Fred Lebow, in remission from brain cancer, ran to mark his 60th birthday; he and the champion finished together in 5:32:35, two years before his death.

Fred Lebow, founder of the race, was born under what name in Arad, Romania?

Born Fischel Lebowitz to an Orthodox Jewish family in Arad, he survived the Holocaust, emigrated to the United States, and changed his name to Fred Lebow.

Which 1994 winner earned the nickname 'Wrong Way' after a detour seven-tenths of a mile from the finish?

Germán Silva followed a lead vehicle off course with less than a mile to go, realised his mistake, and came back to beat countryman Benjamín Paredes by two seconds.

Tegla Loroupe's 1994 victory made her the first woman from where to win the race?

Tegla Loroupe became the first African woman to win the race in 1994, running 2:27:37 at age 21, and she repeated in 1995.

An official wheelchair division was first included in the New York City Marathon in what year?

An official wheelchair division was added in 2000; before that, wheelchair athletes had competed for more than two decades without a recognised category or prizes.

Tesfaye Jifar's 2001 course record of 2:07:43, set weeks after 9/11, stood until who broke it in 2011?

Geoffrey Mutai ran 2:05:06 in 2011, cutting more than two and a half minutes from Tesfaye Jifar's decade-old course record.

Which woman's 2003 course record of 2:22:31 stood for many years?

Margaret Okayo's 2:22:31 in 2003 lowered her own course record of 2:24:21, set two years earlier, and was not beaten for more than two decades.

Which rapper ran the 2003 race for charity and raised $2 million for New York City schools?

Sean 'P. Diddy' Combs finished the 2003 race in 4:14:54, raising about $2 million for New York City public schools through his 'Diddy Runs the City' campaign.

The closest finish in race history came in 2005 when Paul Tergat beat Hendrick Ramaala by how much?

Ramaala had won the year before, and Paula Radcliffe's 2004 win by four seconds had been the previous closest.

Marílson Gomes dos Santos, the 2006 and 2008 winner, was the first champion from where?

Marílson Gomes dos Santos of Brazil won in 2006 and 2008, the first champion from South America; his 2006 winning time was 2:09:58.

Which cyclist ran the 2006 New York City Marathon in 2:59:36, finishing 868th?

Lance Armstrong, paced by stars including Hicham El Guerrouj and Joan Benoit Samuelson, finished the 2006 race in 2:59:36, 868th overall.

How many times did Paula Radcliffe win the New York City Marathon?

Paula Radcliffe won New York three times, in 2004, 2007 and 2008; the 2008 race was the last marathon victory of her career.

Meb Keflezighi's 2009 victory made him the first American man to win since whom?

Meb Keflezighi's 2:09:15 in 2009 ended a drought going back to Alberto Salazar in 1982, the last American man to win before him.

Which world record holder dropped out at mile 16 in 2010 with a bad knee and briefly retired?

Haile Gebrselassie, the marathon world record holder at 2:03:59, quit at mile 16 with a knee injury and tearfully announced his retirement, which he reversed within days.

Which trapped Chilean miner, rescued in 2010, ran the New York City Marathon weeks later?

Edison Peña, who ran laps through the mine's tunnels during his 69 days underground, finished the 2010 race in 5:40:51 less than a month after his rescue.

Why was the 2012 New York City Marathon cancelled?

Hurricane Sandy struck the city less than a week before race day; Mayor Michael Bloomberg cancelled the marathon on the Friday, two days out, after public outcry over diverting resources.

Which company became the race's title sponsor in 2014 under an eight-year deal?

Tata Consultancy Services took over from ING as title sponsor in 2014 on an eight-year deal, and the race became the TCS New York City Marathon.

Shalane Flanagan's 2017 win made her the first American woman to win since what year?

Shalane Flanagan's 2:26:53 in 2017 ended a 40-year wait since the last American women's winner in 1977, with Mary Keitany second.

Who set the men's course record of 2:04:58 in 2023?

Tamirat Tola of Ethiopia ran 2:04:58 in 2023, taking eight seconds off the course record that had stood since 2011.

Who won the 2022 women's race in her marathon debut?

Sharon Lokedi won the 2022 women's race in 2:23:23 in her first marathon, beating Lonah Chemtai Salpeter by seven seconds.

The race starts on Staten Island at which former military post near the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge?

Fort Wadsworth, a former Army and Coast Guard post guarding the Narrows, hosts the start village at the Staten Island foot of the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge.

The Verrazzano-Narrows crossing, where the race begins, held what record when it opened in 1964?

With a main span of 4,260 feet, the Verrazzano-Narrows was the world's longest suspension span from its 1964 opening until England's Humber Bridge surpassed it in 1981.

Roughly how many miles of the course run through Brooklyn?

About 11 of the 26.2 miles are in Brooklyn, from the foot of the bridge near mile 2 up Fourth and Bedford avenues to Greenpoint near mile 13.

Which crossing marks the halfway point and the entrance into Queens?

The Pulaski Bridge over Newtown Creek carries runners from Greenpoint into Long Island City, Queens, with the halfway mark on the bridge itself.

Marathoners climb the lower deck of which bridge just before reaching First Avenue?

The Queensboro Bridge's lower deck, closed to spectators, brings a steep, silent climb around mile 15 before runners drop onto First Avenue.

How long does the course spend in the Bronx?

The course spends only about one mile in the Bronx, entering over the Willis Avenue Bridge near mile 20 and leaving by the Madison Avenue Bridge.

At which cross street does the course enter Central Park from Fifth Avenue?

Runners turn off Fifth Avenue into the park at East 90th Street, the Engineers' Gate, then follow East Drive south toward the final stretch.

What is the '9+1' program that grants guaranteed entry?

Members who run nine club races and volunteer at one NYRR event in a calendar year earn guaranteed entry to the following year's marathon.

On which day of the year is the New York City Marathon held?

The race falls on the first Sunday of November; since 2007 that has also been the morning US clocks fall back, giving runners an extra hour of sleep.

Roughly how many spectators line the course each year?

Nearly two million spectators line the five-borough route each year, with the loudest crowds along First Avenue and in Brooklyn.

In which year did the race first record more than 50,000 finishers?

The 2013 race recorded 50,266 finishers, the first time any marathon had passed 50,000.

The 2021 race, the 50th running, was capped at how many competitors due to pandemic precautions?

The 50th running in 2021 was capped at 33,000 entrants, about 60 percent of the usual field, under pandemic precautions; Albert Korir and Peres Jepchirchir won.

Who founded New York Road Runners, the race's organizer, in 1958?

Ted Corbitt, a 1952 Olympic marathoner, was the founding president of New York Road Runners in 1958, when the club had 47 members.

Which country swept the men's top three places for the first time in 2002?

Rodgers Rop won, and it was also the first year Kenyans won both the men's and women's races.

Who won the men's wheelchair race in 2016 in 1:35:49?

Marcel Hug, the Swiss racer nicknamed the 'Silver Bullet' for his helmet, won the 2016 men's wheelchair race in 1:35:49.

Who in 2005 became the first woman to direct a major international marathon?

Mary Wittenberg took over as NYRR president and race director in 2005, the first woman to direct a major international marathon, and led the event until 2015.

Which tennis star ran the 2014 race in 3:26:33?

Caroline Wozniacki, then ranked in the world's top ten, finished the 2014 race in 3:26:33, raising money for NYRR's Team for Kids.

What colour is the line painted along the course to mark the shortest route?

A blue line is painted along the entire 26.2-mile course before race day to show runners the shortest legal route from Staten Island to Central Park.

The official race times are 'net times', calculated by what?

Net time comes from a chip on the back of the runner's bib, read by mats at the start, every 5 km and the finish, so the clock counts only from when the runner crosses the start line.

Who was the first man to win the New York City Marathon twice?

Tom Fleming of New Jersey won in 1973 and again in 1975, when his 2:19:27 made him the first man to take the title twice.

Who won the 1999 women's race?

Adriana Fernández became the first Mexican woman to win the race in 1999, finishing in 2:25:06.

Who won the 1991 women's race on her marathon debut?

Liz McColgan of Scotland won the 1991 women's race on her marathon debut, the same year she won the 10,000 m world title in Tokyo.

Who won the men's race in both 1997 and 1998?

John Kagwe won in 1997 in 2:08:12 despite stopping twice to retie his shoelaces, and defended his title in 1998.

Who in 1988 became the first British man to win the New York City Marathon?

Steve Jones of Wales won the 1988 men's race in a then course-record 2:08:20, becoming the first British man to take the title.

Which Polish woman won the 1990 women's race?

Wanda Panfil won the 1990 women's race in 2:30:45, a year before she took the world championship marathon title in Tokyo.

Which Ethiopian won the men's race in 2010 on his marathon debut?

Gebregziabher Gebremariam, a world cross-country champion, won the 2010 men's race in 2:08:14 in his first marathon.

Who won the 2011 women's race after catching the leader in the final two miles?

Firehiwot Dado won the 2011 women's race in 2:23:15, catching Mary Keitany in the final two miles after Keitany had led by more than two minutes.