Home US New York City Marathon: Two million spectators line streets to watch 50,000 runners tackle 26.2 mile course

New York City Marathon: Two million spectators line streets to watch 50,000 runners tackle 26.2 mile course

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Spectators line the streets of Brooklyn to support runners in the 2024 New York Marathon

Spectators lined the streets of New York on Sunday to cheer on the thousands of runners who took part in the city’s iconic marathon.

Two million New Yorkers are expected to watch professional and amateur runners take on the 26.2-mile course.

Around 50,000 people will tour the five boroughs of New York, from Staten Island to Central Park, in one of the most anticipated events of the year.

The action began Sunday at 8 a.m. with the professional wheelchair race. The elite women’s race began at 8:35 a.m., half an hour before the elite men’s runners began the grueling race.

The masses followed soon after, crossing from Staten Island to Brooklyn before reaching Queens.

Shortly after the halfway point, athletes cross the East River into Manhattan, where they head north to the Bronx before returning home.

Spectators line the streets of Brooklyn to support runners in the 2024 New York Marathon

About two million New Yorkers were expected to watch the 26.2-mile course.

About two million New Yorkers were expected to watch the 26.2-mile course.

Around 50,000 people ran the route that begins in Staten Island and ends in Central Park

Around 50,000 people ran the route that begins in Staten Island and ends in Central Park

A spectator holds a sign that says

A spectator holds a sign that says “I like my Sundays off too” on the marathon course.

Runners cross the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge with the Manhattan skyline in the background

Runners cross the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge with the Manhattan skyline in the background

A cyclist falls to the ground while passing runners during the 2024 New York Marathon

A cyclist falls to the ground while passing runners during the 2024 New York Marathon

The final miles take runners down Fifth Avenue to Central Park, where the crowd cheers them on to the finish line.

Abdi Nageeye of the Netherlands won the men’s race and Sheila Chepkirui of Kenya won the women’s event on Sunday.

Both runners pulled away from their closest competitors in the final few hundred meters to claim their first wins of the race.

Nageeye paced 2022 champion Evans Chebet before using a burst heading into Central Park to take the win in 2 hours, 7 minutes and 39 seconds. Chebet finished six seconds behind.

‘At the end I thought: Am I dreaming? I won in New York,” said Nageeye, who had run the New York race three times before.

Chepkirui was racing in New York for the first time and pulled away from defending champion Hellen Obiri in the women’s race.

Chepkirui, who started running marathons in 2022, won in 2:24.35. Obiri finished almost 15 seconds behind.

New Yorkers lined the streets to cheer on the amateurs and professionals in Sunday's race.

New Yorkers lined the streets to cheer on the amateurs and professionals in Sunday’s race.

A boy runs across the street as New York City marathon runners make their way down the course.

A boy runs across the street as New York City marathon runners make their way down the course.

Spectators welcome runners to Brooklyn as they pass through New York's five boroughs

Spectators welcome runners to Brooklyn as they pass through New York’s five boroughs

Abdi Nageeye of the Netherlands won the men's race in two hours, seven minutes, 39 seconds.

Abdi Nageeye of the Netherlands won the men’s race in two hours, seven minutes, 39 seconds.

Kenya completed a big win in the women's race with Sheila Chepkirui (C) finishing ahead of Hellen Obiri (L) and Vivian Cheruiyot (R).

Kenya completed a big win in the women’s race with Sheila Chepkirui (C) finishing ahead of Hellen Obiri (L) and Vivian Cheruiyot (R).

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