On Sunday, Nov. 1, when thousands of sneakers take off to form a rhythmic brontide sweeping through the streets of New York City, a spotlight will be shining on the Americans to represent at the 2026 New York City Marathon.
60,000 runners will participate in the metropolis-weaving race, but the focus will be on the roughly 100 elite entries in four categories: men’s, women’s, men’s wheelchair and women’s wheelchair.
- Subscribe to FloTrack Today
- Tigst Assefa Runs Gritty Berlin Marathon Finish Despite Ruptured Achilles
- A Look At The FloTrack College XC Rankings
- Amos Kipruto, Hawi Feysa Win The 2026 Chicago Marathon
Conner Mantz vs. Zouhair Talbi
Headlining the men’s open division from an American perspective is a battle between Conner Mantz and Zouhair Talbi. Two of the fastest American marathoners ever, already met once this year at the 2026 Falmouth Road Race, where Talbi finished third to Mantz’s fourth.
Mantz, however, holds the American marathon record with his 2:04:43 performance at the 2025 Chicago Marathon. Since then, he’s been the name to watch on the American distance scene. He returned to major road-running competition in September, finishing as the top American man at the World Athletics Road Running Championships half marathon with a 1:00:08.
While Mantz holds the mantle as the fastest American marathoner, Talbi actually holds the quicker personal best. While the Boston Marathon is not World Athletics-eligible due to its large descentions in elevation, Talbi rocketed to a 2:03:45 in April this year.
Now, Mantz and Talbi face off on a course that both have experienced before. Mantz competed in 2024, finishing sixth with a time of 2:09:00. Talbi ran his lone NYC attempt in 2023, but he did not finish.
Weini Kelati’s Long-Awaited Debut
Weini Kelati's name has been floating in the distance-running aether since she won the 2015 Foot Locker Cross Country Championship, marking her as the best high school performer in the country.
Since then, she’s used that as a launching pad, winning an NCAA championship, two national championships and finishing top eight in the 2024 Tokyo Olympic Games. In February, Kelati ran a half marathon in Barcelona, throwing down a 1:06:04 on her way to both a meeting and American record.
Finally conquering her first marathon, Kelati is one of the biggest names competing in the 2026 NYC Marathon.
In 2016, Molly Huddle made the jump to 26.2. In her debut, the then-national record holder in the 10k — finished third overall in the NYC Marathon. Can we see a similar story from Kelati next Sunday?
Kelati will have a chance to become the first American woman to finish on the podium at NYC since Shalane Flanagan finished as the runner-up in 2018.
Loaded Women’s Group
Although Kelati has been at the center of the conversation since her entry announcement, she only strengthened what is sure to be one of the strongest women’s divisions at the NYC Marathon in recent memory.
After 2025’s top American woman Fiona O’Keeffe dropped out due to injury, Annie Frisbie was pushed to the forefront. Frisbie finished as the second American in the 2025 NYC Marathon, clocking a 2:22:00.
Additionally, Jess McClain, one of the most established forces in American distance running, is slated to compete. McClain spent her April breaking the American course record at the 2026 Boston Marathon, running a 2:20:49.
While Kelati might have more raw pace in her legs, especially at shorter distances, the marathon experience from Frisbie and McClain make the fight for the American top spot and even the overall podium intriguing.
FloTrack Archived Footage
Video footage from each event will be archived and stored in a video library for FloTrack subscribers to watch for the duration of their subscriptions.
Join The Track & Field Conversation On Social
- Follow us on Twitter @FloTrack
- Follow us on Instagram @flotrack
- Follow us on TikTok @flotracktv
- Watch us on YouTube
- Like us on Facebook