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2026 New York City Marathon

Power Ranking The American Men In The Marathon Ahead Of The 2026 New York City Marathon

Power Ranking The American Men In The Marathon Ahead Of The 2026 New York City Marathon

The marathon will take center stage again this weekend, with the running of the 2026 NYC Marathon. Ahead of the race, we've ranked the best American Men.

Oct 28, 2026 by John Davern
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Julia Paternain Takes On RIGOROUS Long Run Workout In Preparation For 2026 New York City Marathon14:29

The 2026 New York City Marathon is quickly approaching, and yet again - we have a stellar field of American Men slated to make a start.

Ahead of the action, we ranked the Top 20 Active American men at the distance (women’s ranking article coming to FloTrack soon).

This weekend's TCS NYC Marathon has the opportunity to shake things up with Zouhair Talbi and Conner Mantz slated to go head-to-head. That battle will be the talk of the town on the American side, with a few other notables contesting in the five boroughs.


FloTrack American Men Marathon Rankings

20. Afewerki Zeru - 2:10:12 (Chicago 2026)

This #20 spot could have gone to about ten different athletes, but after a 2:10:12 performance at the Chicago Marathon - I deemed Afe Zeru deserving of this spot in this set due to his upside.

Zeru, running for Hansons-Brooks, has made steady improvements over the marathon distance.

In 2025, he ran 2:13:23 at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon to finish as the tenth American.

This year he ran 2:10:12 to finish as the seventh American (behind six men ranked ahead of him in this set).

19. JP Flavin - 2:09:18 (Marathon Project 2025)

Flavin ran 2:09:18 to win The Marathon Project in 2025. He has not yet run a marathon in 2026, but is slated to make a start at the 2026 NYC Marathon on Sunday.

He has the sixth fastest entry time among American Men.

18. Daniel Mesfun - 2:08:24 (Seville 2026)

Mesfun has been around the block a time or two since running his first marathon in 2015, but the 38-year-old vet continues to find time.

He then ran 2:10:45 for third at the Rio De Janeiro Marathon in June.

He finished in a disappointing 40th at the 2026 Chicago Marathon (2:20:32), but we can't knock him too badly for one poor performance.

17. Shuaib Aljabaly - 2:10:04 (Chicago 2026 - Debut)

Shuaib Aljabaly is one of the athletes that I'm most excited about on this list.

He made his debut at the 2026 Chicago Marathon and ran 2:10:04 to finish as the sixth American in the field behind Clayton Young, Charles Hicks, Vinny Mauri, Galen Rupp and CJ Albertson.

He has plenty to learn, but a 2:10:04 in a debut race is something to be excited about.

16. Hillary Bor - 2:08:40 (Rotterdam 2026)

The six-time National Champ made his marathon debut at the 2025 New York City Marathon and ran 2:10:47 in his first-ever race at the discipline.

Then this year, Bor added a 2:08:40 performance for tenth at the Rotterdam Marathon.

15. Alex Maier - 2:08:33 (Dusseldorf 2025)

Maier won the USA Half Marathon, 10 Mile and 4 Mile Road Running Titles in 2025. Between those performances he ran 2:08:33 in Dusseldorf.

Then in 2026, he ran 59:23 for fourth at the Houston Half and 59:51 for fourth at the NYC Half.

He was a DNF in Boston and finished in 35th in Chicago (2:16:29) but we expect him to get back on track in 2027.

14. Casey Clinger - 2:08:43 (Tokyo 2026)

Clinger earned Top American Honors at the 2026 Tokyo Marathon, but scratched out of the 2026 NYC Marathon.

He has a bright future ahead of him, and two of the best training partners in the sport (Conner Mantz and Clayton Young).

13. Haftu Knight - 2:07:38 (Boston 2026)

Knight posted a 2:07:38 performance to finish 19th overall and as the sixth American at the 2026 Boston Marathon.

He was a DNF at the 2026 Chicago Marathon, which hurt his overall rankings.

Expect him to climb into the top ten early in 2027.

12. Wesley Kiptoo - 2:07:55 (Boston 2026)

Reichow earned Top American honors at the 2025 NYC Marathon, besting Charles Hicks, Joe Klecker and Hillary Bor on that day. He ran 2:09:56.

He'll race NYC again this week and look to defend that top spot against stiff competition.

11. Joel Reichow - 2:09:56 (New York 2025)

Kiptoo ran 2:07:55 for 20th overall (seventh American) at the 2026 Boston Marathon.

He then parlayed that performance into a 2:08:07 performance at the Toronto Marathon last week.

There, he earned Top American Honors.

10. Ethan Shuley - 2:07:14 (Osaka 2026)

Shuley ran 2:07:14 to finish 14th at the Osaka (JPN) Marathon in February of this year.

He then ran 2:08:34 for 13th at the Sydney Marathon. He was the Top American in that field.

Shuley lives and trains in Tokyo, so he doesn’t race a typical American schedule - but he is getting plenty of experience overseas and could be a threat at the 2028 U.S. Olympic Trials.

9. CJ Albertson - 2:07:19 (Chicago 2026)

Albertson notched a very respectable PR at the 2026 Chicago Marathon as he ran 2:07:19 to finish as the fifth American.

It was a nice rebound after he finished as the 12th American in Boston earlier this year with a forgettable 2:09:59.

8. Galen Rupp - 2:06:07 (Prague 2018)

Rupp made waves this October, when at age 40 he ran 2:06:55 for a new American Masters Record at the Chicago Marathon.

That was the fastest Marathon he's run since his 2:06:35 runner-up finish at the 2021 Chicago Marathon.

He was the fourth American in the field behind Clayton Young, Charles Hicks and Vinny Mauri.

He also ran 2:08:15 at Boston earlier this year. Maybe his best years are still ahead of him?

7. Joe Klecker - 2:05:56 (Boston 2026)

Joe Klecker made himself a threat when he ran 2:05:56 in just his second marathon, in Boston earlier this year.

The 2026 Boston Marathon was kind to Klecker who finished as the fifth American in the field (13th overall).

6. Ryan Ford - 2:05:46 (Boston 2026)

The Ryan Ford train has been steadily picking up steam.

In 2025, Ford ran 2:08:00 to finish tenth overall and as the third American in the Boston Marathon field.

He added a 2:09:37 performance at the Chicago Marathon that year and opened 2026 with a 59:48 half in Houston.

Then, at this year’s Boston Marathon, Ford hit pay dirt.

He finished 12th with a new personal best 2:05:46. He was the fourth American in that field behind Talbi, Young and Hicks.

What can he do in NYC this weekend?

5. Vincent Mauri - 2:05:53 (Toledo 2026 DEBUT)

Vinny “The Treadmill King” Mauri made waves at the 2026 Toledo Marathon - he stunned by breaking 2:06 in a solo debut, running 2:05:53 for the win.

And in Chicago, he backed it up.

In his first World Major, Mauri ran 2:06:45, finishing tenth and as the third American behind Young and Hicks.

4. Charles Hicks - 2:04:35 (Boston 2026)

Hicks has been mentioned several times in this article already but let’s do a quick recap.

2:09:59 at 2025 NYC Marathon in Debut. Sixth overall, second American.

2:04:35 at 2026 Boston Marathon. Seventh overall, second American.

2:05:35 at 2026 Chicago Marathon. Eighth overall, second American.

In his three career marathons, Hicks has never finished worse than eighth or as the second American.

Those stats are pretty good for someone whose first marathon came just one year ago.

3. Clayton Young - 2:05:23 (Chicago 2026)

Just when we thought a hamstring injury would derail what Young had cooking, he rose to the occasion and finished as the top American in Chicago with a 2:05:23 personal best.

Young called his shot at the American Record earlier this Fall. He may have come up short this time around but he’s not far off.

He has run sub 2:06 twice this year. Only Charles Hicks and Zouhair Talbi can say the same.

2. Conner Mantz - 2:04:43 (Chicago 2025 - American Record)

Mantz set the American Record at the 2025 Chicago Marathon when he ran 2:04:43 to finish fourth overall.

Mantz holds the American Records in the Marathon, Half Marathon, Road 20K and Road 10K.

He has been the best of the best, but injuries derailed the start of his 2026 season and opened the door for Talbi to take honors in this ranking.

If I’m wrong, he’ll have the chance to prove it in NYC when he goes head-to-head with Talbi for true Top American Honors.

1. Zouhair Talbi - 2:03:45 (Boston 2026)

Talbi ahead of the American Record Holder?!

Talbi has been on another level since switching his athletic allegiance from Morocco.

He became eligible to represent the United States in November of 2025, but he’ll wait until August 2027 to be able to represent Team USA on the global stage, or to be able to set American Records.

This year, Talbi ran 2:05:45 at the Houston Marathon to collect the overall win.

In March, he ran 59:41 to finish second at the NYC Half Marathon. Then in April, Talbi put on a show as he earned a 2:03:45 finish for fifth at the Boston Marathon.

That was the fastest time ever run by an American (All-Conditions).

It may not count as an American Record due to the nature of Boston’s course (and his status athletically), but it asserted him as the top dog in American Marathoning.

He’ll have to defend those laurels against Conner Mantz in New York City this weekend.

How can you track a runner in the NYC Marathon?

Download the free New York Road Runners app to follow runners, monitor race progress and view leaderboards.

Official finishing results are available at results.nyrr.org.

2026 New York City Marathon Men's Entries

  • Benson Kipruto, KEN, 2:02:16
  • Deresa Geleta, ETH, 2:02:38
  • CyBrian Kotut, KEN, 2:03:22
  • Zouhair Talbi, USA, 2:03:45
  • Abdi Nageeye, NED, 2:04:20 NR
  • Geoffrey Kamworor, KEN, 2:04:23
  • Conner Mantz, USA, 2:04:43 NR
  • Kengo Suzuki, JPN, 2:04:56
  • Yemaneberhan Crippa, ITA, 2:05:18
  • Edward Cheserek, KEN, 2:05:24
  • Ryota Kondo, JPN, 2:05:39
  • Ryan Ford, USA, 2:05:46
  • Joe Klecker, USA, 2:05:56
  • Peter Lynch, IRL, 2:06:08 NR
  • Patrick Dever, GBR, 2:06:18
  • Haftu Strintzos, AUS, 2:06:20 NR
  • Jack Rowe, GBR, 2:07:47
  • Kamohelo Mofolo, LES, 2:08:50
  • Sam Chelanga, USA, 2:08:50
  • JP Flavin, USA, 2:09:17
  • Turner Wiley, USA, 2:09:27
  • Andrew Colley, USA, 2:09:33
  • Robert Miranda, USA, 2:09:40
  • Joel Reichow, USA, 2:09:56
  • Aidan Troutner, USA, 2:10:23
  • Stephen Jones, USA, 2:11:17
  • Mo Bati, USA, 2:12:29
  • Aidan Reed, USA, 2:13:58
  • Owen Ritz, USA, 2:14:19
  • James Nipperess, AUS, 2:15:03
  • Merga Gemeda, USA, 2:15:12
  • Alec Baldwin, USA, 2:15:38
  • Ryan Cutter, USA, 2:17:24
  • Andreas Almgren, SWE, Debut
  • Patrick Kiprop, KEN, Debut
  • Ahmed Muhumed, USA, Debut

2026 New York City Marathon Women's Entries

  • Hellen Obiri, KEN, 2:15:53
  • Sheila Chepkirui, KEN, 2:17:29
  • Viola Cheptoo, KEN, 2:19:05
  • Edna Kiplagat, KEN, 2:19:50
  • Mercy Chelangat, KEN, 2:20:30
  • Jessica McClain, USA, 2:20:49
  • Annie Frisbie, USA, 2:22:00
  • Fabienne Königstein, GER, 2:22:17
  • Carrie Ellwood, USA, 2:22:53
  • Giovanna Epis, ITA, 2:23:46
  • Rie Kawauchi, JPN, 2:24:16
  • Amanda Vestri, USA, 2:24:49
  • Lauren Hagans, USA, 2:25:47
  • Julia Paternain, URU, 2:25:47 NR
  • Phily Bowden, GBR, 2:25:57
  • Paige Wood, USA, 2:26:02
  • Steph Bruce, USA, 2:27:47
  • Roberta Groner, USA, 2:29:09
  • Mica Rivera Wood, PER, 2:29:13
  • Megan O’Neil, USA, 2:31:31
  • Monica Hebner, USA, 2:32:40
  • Brooke Starn, USA, 2:35:22
  • Alosha Southern, USA, 2:36:10
  • Keelah Barger, USA, 2:36:13
  • Maddie Block, USA, 2:36:25
  • Cailie Hughes, USA, Debut
  • Weini Kelati, USA, Debut

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