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

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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

• AfterSlide Recovery Slides
• 2026 TCS New York City Marathon Event Coverage - LetsRun.com
• Did you run NY? post here
• Ciara Mageean Memorial Thread - LetsRun Forum
• Ciara Mageean LetsRun Interview (2023)
• Ciara Mageean Reflects on Finishing Fourth in the World - Citius Mag Podcasthttps://www.letsrun.com/
• LetsRun.com Forum — https://www.letsrun.com/forum
• Supporters Club — https://www.letsrun.com/subscribe

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

Contact us:

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ABOUT THE LETSRUN.COM PODCAST

Since 2000, LetsRun.com has been the independent home of elite running. Described by the New York Times as the "influential website that serves as something of a superego for American running," the podcast is the weekly deep dive into the world of track and field and elite distance running.

The show is hosted by LetsRun.com co-founders Weldon Johnson, a 2-time Team USA member, and Robert Johnson, a former Cornell coach who helped pace the marathon world record, along with award-winning senior writer Jonathan Gault. Together they move beyond PR headlines to provide insider reporting and unfiltered debate serious fans rely on.