New York City Marathon: Two million spectators line streets to watch  50,000 runners tackle 26.2 mile course

Spectators lined the streets of New York on Sunday to cheer on the thousands of runners taking part in the city’s iconic marathon.

Two million New Yorkers are expected to watch as professional and amateur runners tackle the 26.2-mile course.

About 50,000 people will make their way through New York’s five boroughs, from Staten Island to Central Park, in one of the most anticipated events of the year.

The action started on Sunday at 8 a.m. with the professional wheelchair race. The women’s elite race started at 8:35 am, half an hour before the elite men’s runners started the tough course.

The crowd followed soon after, crossing from Staten Island into Brooklyn before entering Queens.

Shortly after the halfway point, the athletes then run across the East River to Manhattan, where they head north to the Bronx before returning home.

Spectators line the streets of Brooklyn to support runners during the 2024 New York Marathon

About two million New Yorkers were expected to watch along the 26.2-mile course

About two million New Yorkers were expected to watch along the 26.2-mile course

About 50,000 people walked the course that starts on Staten Island and ends in Central Park

About 50,000 people walked the course that starts on Staten Island and ends in Central Park

A spectator holds up a sign that reads

A spectator holds up a sign that reads “I love my lazy Sundays too” on the marathon course

Runners cross the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge with the Manhattan skyline in the background

Runners cross the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge with the Manhattan skyline in the background

A cyclist is knocked to the ground by passing runners during the 2024 New York Marathon

A cyclist is knocked to the ground by passing runners during the 2024 New York Marathon

The last few miles take the runners down Fifth Avenue to Central Park, where the crowds cheer them on to the finish line.

Abdi Nageeye from the Netherlands won the men’s race on Sunday and Sheila Chepkirui from Kenya won the women’s race on Sunday.

Both runners pulled away from their closest competitors in the last few hundred meters to take their first victories in the race.

Nageeye followed 2022 champion Evans Chebet step by step before using a burst on the way to Central Park and coming away with the win in 2 hours, 7 minutes and 39 seconds. Chebet finished six seconds behind.

‘At the finish I thought: am I dreaming? I won New York,” said Nageeye, who had run the New York race three times before.

Chepkirui raced in New York for the first time, pulling away from defending champion Hellen Obiri in the women’s race.

Chepkirui, who started running marathons in 2022, won in 2:24.35. Obiri finished almost 15 seconds behind.

New Yorkers lined the streets to cheer on the amateurs and professionals during Sunday's race

New Yorkers lined the streets to cheer on the amateurs and professionals during Sunday’s race

A child runs across the street as marathon runners from New York make their way around the course

A child runs across the street as marathon runners from New York make their way around the course

Spectators welcome the runners to Brooklyn - they pass through all five New York boroughs

Spectators welcome the runners to Brooklyn – they pass through all five New York boroughs

Abdi Nageeye from the Netherlands won the men's race in two hours, seven minutes and 39 seconds

Abdi Nageeye from the Netherlands won the men’s race in two hours, seven minutes and 39 seconds

Kenya completed a clear in the women's race, with Sheila Chepkirui (C) finishing ahead of Hellen Obiri (L) and Vivian Cheruiyot (R)

Kenya completed a clear in the women’s race, with Sheila Chepkirui (C) finishing ahead of Hellen Obiri (L) and Vivian Cheruiyot (R)