Benson Kipruto took a narrow victory at the 2025 TCS New York City Marathon on Sunday morning, clocking 2:08:09 to outlast a world-class field on the hills of New York. Alexander Mutiso took second in the same time, being edged out in a thrilling battle to the line, while Albert Korir secured the final podium spot in 2:08:57.
The men’s race had been one of the most highly anticipated in recent years, headlined by the long-awaited New York City debut of Eliud Kipchoge, widely regarded as the greatest marathoner of all time.
The Kenyan, running his third marathon of the year, had declared his intent to complete the full set of World Marathon Majors. Yet there were questions over his form, after a ninth-place finish in Sydney just weeks after failing to finish at the Paris Olympics.
Also on the start line was Kenenisa Bekele, the 43-year-old Ethiopian great, whose career has been defined by brilliance and unpredictability. New York marked a rare head-to-head showdown between Bekele and Kipchoge on the roads, the two have gone back and forth over two decades of racing, from Olympic tracks to marathon start lines.
Abdi Nageeye, the 2022 New York champion and Tokyo 2020 Olympic silver medallist, returned to New York after missing last year’s edition. Known for his tactical racing and strength on hilly courses, the Dutchman was among the contenders to watch.
But the deepest challenges were expected to come from Kenya’s Benson Kipruto, third at the Paris Olympics and one of the fastest in the field with a 2:02 personal best, and Alexander Mutiso, the 2024 London champion. Evans Chebet and Albert Korir, both former NYC winners, added more firepower to a loaded East African contingent.
Also in the mix: Alphonce Simbu, fresh off winning the marathon at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, and a handful of strong U.S. men including Biya Simbassa, Hillary Bor, and Joe Klecker, the latter making his highly anticipated debut at 26.2 miles.
A Finish for the Ages in the Men’s Race
Benson Kipruto captured his first New York City Marathon title with a dramatic sprint finish, edging fellow Kenyan Alexander Mutiso Munyao by just three-hundredths of a second, the closest finish in race history. His winning time of 2:08:09 capped a tense final mile through Central Park, where both men ran shoulder-to-shoulder until the final turn toward the finish.
Kipruto, already a major marathon star with victories in Boston (2021), Chicago (2022), and Tokyo (2024), added New York to his résumé in style. It marked his fourth win on the global stage and completed a sweep of the U.S.-based World Marathon Majors.
The early miles unfolded at a conservative pace, with the lead pack passing 5K in roughly 15:13. Among the frontrunners were Kipruto, Mutiso, Eliud Kipchoge, Albert Korir, and American debutant Hillary Bor. Japan’s Yudai Fukuda briefly yo-yoed off the front and took the field through halfway in 1:05:18, as more than 20 athletes remained in contact.
The tempo increased over the Queensboro Bridge, where Bor surged and strung out the pack. Kipruto, Korir, and Mutiso responded, forming a lead group that gradually whittled down over the final 10K. Kipchoge, running his first NYC Marathon and completing his quest to race all six majors, struggled to hang on and ultimately finished 17th in 2:14:36.
By mile 23, only Kipruto and Mutiso remained. They traded surges through the Upper East Side, each testing the other’s limits. In the final kilometer, Kipruto surged again and opened a slight gap heading downhill in Central Park. But Mutiso wasn’t done, he launched a massive sprint and nearly caught Kipruto at the line, falling short by the narrowest of margins.
Albert Korir, the 2021 NYC champion, finished third in 2:08:57, earning his second consecutive podium finish in New York.
The top American finisher was Joel Reichow, who ran 2:09:56 for sixth overall, a career breakthrough in one of the strongest fields of the year. Charles Hicks impressed in his debut with 2:09:59 for seventh, while fellow debutant Joe Klecker placed 10th in 2:10:37, signaling the arrival of a new generation of U.S. men on the global stage.
While much of the pre-race attention had centered on Kipchoge, it was Kipruto who owned the day, delivering a veteran performance in one of the sport’s most demanding and iconic marathons.
Top 3 Results: 2025 NYC Marathon, Men’s Division
- Benson Kipruto – 2:08:09
- Alexander Mutsio – 2:08:09
- Albert Korir – 2:08:57
Top American finisher: Joel Reichow, 6th, 2:09:56
