NYC Marathon 2026 Elite Men Interviews

We talked to the top men in the 2026 TCS New York City Marathon field at Thursday’s media availability. Defending champion Benson Kipruto is here, along with top Americans Conner Mantz and Zouhair Talbi. So is Sweden’s Andreas Almgren, whose marathon debut might be the most hyped in recent memory.

Almgren explains his plan to sit with the leaders and kick, and talks about the possibility of a 10,000m and marathon double at LA 2028. Talbi talks about his rivalry with Mantz, explains why he thinks he’s America’s best marathoner, and responds to people who doubt his Boston run. Kipruto, in his 10th year of marathon running, says he isn’t worried about who’s next to him at mile 25. Each athlete also does a lightning round: race shoes, carbs per hour, bicarb and Nomio, mantras, favourite runners, Harry Styles, toenails, trash talk, finishing time predictions, Kalshi odds, and lifetime bans for EPO.