Almgren Makes History, Jess McClain Stuns, What does Conner Mantz's 2:07 for 11th Mean?, Rest in Peace Ciara Mageean

From LetsRun.com's Track Talk: The Home of Running and Track and Field LetsRun.com

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Andreas Almgren made history at the 2026 TCS New York City Marathon, becoming the first non-African born man to win a World Marathon Major since Yuki Kawauchi's snowstorm Boston in 2018, and only the seventh in the 21st century. The Swedish 800m-convert-turned-marathoner closed in 6:01 from 40K, tied for the second-fastest close in major marathon history, and won going away in 2:06:01.

On the women's side, Sheila Chepkirui took the title in a shallow field, but the story was Jess McClain's brilliant late charge to grab second, the first American woman on the NYC Marathon podium since 2018, while 46-year-old Edna Kiplagat stunned with a fourth-place finish. American men ran historically fast times but still couldn't crack the top five, extending their major podium drought to five years.

In NCAA cross country, Jane Hedengren returned from illness to win Big 12s and lead BYU to the team title, while Colorado edged Oklahoma State on the men's side.

The episode closes with a tribute to Ciara Mageean, a bright light in the sport, the 2024 European 1500m champion from Ireland, who died at 34 after a battle with bowel cancer.

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LINKS

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 AfterSlide Sponsor
01:34 NYC Marathon Recap and Ciara Mageean
05:21 Almgren's Historic NYC Marathon Win
12:46 Can Others Follow Almgren's Blueprint?
17:41 Almgren: The Wildest Story in Distance Running
22:00 Non-African Born Major Winners By the Numbers
29:36 American Men: Conner Mantz and the Podium Drought
36:55 Should Mantz Change Coaches?
41:29 Super Shoes, Fueling, and Disappearing Blow-Ups
44:21 NYC Marathon Women's Race
48:25 Assessing Jess McClain's Second Place
55:05 Edna Kiplagat Finishes Fourth at 46
57:45 Weini Kelati's Debut and Fueling Woes
60:00 Marathon done, afterslide on (sponsor)
60:47 NCAA XC: Jane Hedengren and the BYU Women
64:41 NCAA XC Men: Colorado Edges Oklahoma State
69:12 Gapes vs Hedengren: NCAA Individual Preview
73:17 Foreigners Taking Over NCAA Cross Country
78:02 Recruiting, NIL, and the Campus Requirement Debate
84:08 Remembering Ciara Mageean

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