New York City marathon: All the action from full-capacity race, including winners and costumes

The New York City Marathon returned to full capacity on the streets of the Big Apple on Sunday for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic began.

From the start on Staten Island, racers crossed the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge into Brooklyn and passed through Queens. They then drove into Manhattan, before making a short loop in the Bronx and then returning to Manhattan for the final stretch to the finish in Central Park.

Competitors faced unusually warm weather in New York’s five boroughs with partially sunny skies and temperatures in the high 60s or low 70s, with forecasts predicting a peak in the mid-1970s in the late morning, when the most elite runners in the final are racking.

Temperatures are expected to remain in the mid-70s until mid-afternoon, when the amateur runners will be on the track.

Amateur runners donned creative costumes as they ran through the streets of the Big Apple. A runner appeared to be channeling a bride in her race dress with white strips of material chasing her. She wore all-white Champion running gear, matching white gloves and sunglasses, and had her “veil” woven into the space buns she’d styled her hair in.

A runner appeared to be channeling a bride in her race dress with white strips of material chasing her

She wore all-white Champion running clothes, matching white gloves and sunglasses, and had her ‘veil’ woven into space buns

Many runners went out with their costumes. A runner dressed as the Statue of Liberty in a bejeweled dress and crown

Reigning champion Albert Korir (right) heads the men’s race after earning his first marathon crown in New York last year

From the Staten Island start, the racers crossed the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge before driving through all five boroughs

Another female runner embraced the New York theme well and truly when she dressed up as a version of the city’s iconic Statue of Liberty. She put her own spin on the New York emblem when she wore a short dress in the statue’s famous oxidized green, but gave the look more sparkle with sequins and jewels embellishing the outfit. She also wore a version of the Statue of Liberty crown with a green tulle veil on the back.

The wheelchair division was the first to start and Marcel Hug from Switzerland not only defended his title, but also smashed the course record.

He won the New York City Marathon men’s wheelchair race for the fifth time, shattering the course record on Sunday and equaling Kurt Fearnley for the most wins ever in the men’s wheelchair race.

Hug completed the 26.2 mile course that goes through all five boroughs of New York in 1 hour, 25 minutes and 26 seconds to break the previous figure of 1:29.22 set by Australia’s Fearnley in 2006. Hug, who also won the race last year, earned $50,000 for breaking the course record. He crossed the finish line more than 2 minutes ahead of second place Daniel Romanchuk of Illinois.

Nicknamed the ‘The Silver Bullet’, 36-year-old Hug has had quite a run, winning four gold medals at the Tokyo Paralympic Games last year and the 2022 Tokyo, Berlin, London and Chicago marathons.

Hug won on an unseasonably warm day — with temperatures expected to rise into the 1970s and potentially challenge the record for the hottest race since the marathon was moved in November 1986. While that may not be good for the 50,000 runners, Hug said on Thursday that warm conditions are ideal for wheelchair racers.

Brazil’s Daniel Do Nascimento runs past spectators holding up signs that read ‘Vote’ ahead of the November 8 midterms

Marcel Hug won the New York City Marathon men’s wheelchair race for the fifth time and defended his title for 2021 on Sunday

The Swiss broke the course record on Sunday and tied Kurt Fearnley for the most wins ever in the men’s wheelchair race

The professional wheelchair division kicked off the marathon with the women’s race first, soon followed by the men’s

Susannah Scaroni also broke the course record in the women’s wheelchair race, finishing in 1:42.43. That was 21 seconds better than the old figure, which was in the name of Tatyana McFadden.

Scaroni, a 31-year-old from Illinois, retired from the field early and also earned the bonus money for breaking the course record. She beat runner-up Manuela Schar of Switzerland by 2 1/2 minutes, and last year’s winner Madison de Rozario of Australia finished third.

Scaroni won the Chicago Marathon last month and first triumphed in New York after finishing third in 2019.

More to follow.

American Susannah Scaroni also broke the course record in the women’s wheelchair race, finishing in 1:42.43

Scaroni, a 31-year-old from Illinois, retired from the field early and earned the bonus money for breaking the record

Scaroni defeated runner-up Manuela Schar (left) of Switzerland by two and a half minutes, and last year’s winner Madison de Rozario (right) of Australia finished third