New York, Sept. 13, 2026 – New York Road Runners (NYRR) the nonprofit that “runs” New York City producing 60 annual adult and youth races including the TCS New York City Marathon, hosted more than 8,700 athletes at the 2026 New Balance 5th Avenue Mile, the world’s most iconic road mile race Sunday, Sept. 13. The 45th edition of the race featured 30 heats of one-mile races with athletes of all ages and abilities running 20 blocks down Manhattan’s famed 5th Avenue.

The professional athlete races closed out the day, with Jemma Reekie of Scotland setting a new women’s event record en route to her third New Balance 5th Avenue Mile title, and American Marco Langon breaking the tape in the second-fastest time in event history.

In the women’s race, Reekie returned to the New Balance 5th Avenue Mile after a two-year hiatus and outpaced Americans Josette Andrews and Rachel McArthur to win her third title—the second most by any woman in event history—in a new event record of 4:13.8. Just one week after setting the European road mile record in Düsseldorf, Germany, Reekie broke the New Balance 5th Avenue Mile record by one second, while Andrews finished second in 4:16.1, followed by McArthur in 4:17.7.

“[The 5th Avenue Mile] is a blur [because] it goes by so quickly, but I absolutely love it,” said Reekie after the race.” “It’s such a special race and [was] my last one of the season, so I don’t think there’s a better place to finish.”

On the men’s side, New Jersey native Langon—in his New York Road Runners and American road race debut—edged out Jake Heyward of Wales and Adam Spencer of Australia by less than a second to secure his first New Balance 5th Avenue Mile victory. Langon outkicked the pack late to cross the line in 3:45.0, the second-fastest men’s time in event history. Just like Reekie, Langon secured his second victory in as many weeks after winning in Düsseldorf last week. Both Heyward and Spencer clocked 3:45, producing the third and fourth fastest times in event history, with the former taking second by a razor-thin margin.

“I’m from [New] Jersey, so I’ve been here all my life, and everyone knows what the 5th Avenue Mile is. Whether you run or don’t run [you know] this weekend 5th Avenue next to Central Park is going to be shut down for the whole morning, so it’s unbelievable to be here racing,” said Langon.

The world-class professional athlete fields were headlined by 14 Olympians and 18 international medalists representing 12 different countries across a variety of distances, including the 800 meters, 1,500 meters, 3,000-meter steeplechase, 5,000 meters, and 10,000 meters.

BROADWAY MILE

For the second consecutive year, the Broadway Mile took center stage at the New Balance 5th Avenue Mile with nearly 100 theater professionals running to support Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. The popular Tony-nominated Best New Musical “The Lost Boys” was named the Fastest Broadway Mile Team, while Keri René Fuller of “Wicked,” Thomas Doelger of “The Book of Mormon,” and Dez Duron of “Maybe Happy Ending” were crowned Broadway’s fastest woman, nonbinary, and man, running 5:58, 6:09, and 5:13, respectively. Doelger also won the nonbinary category at last year’s inaugural Broadway Mile.

Alongside Duron, Doelger, and Fuller, actors, producers, music directors, dressers and stagehands, including Ali Louis Bourzgui, Nikki M. James, and Carrie St. Louis, fundraised for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, the philanthropic heart of Broadway that provides lifesaving essential care to members of the theater community and others in need across the country. Thirty shows participated in this year’s Broadway Mile, including “The Great Gatsby,” “Harry Potter & The Cursed Child,” Operation Mincemeat,” and “Just in Time.”

“To be able to perform on Broadway and then wake up and run down a closed 5th Avenue with my Broadway friends for an incredible organization, raising money, is just a pinch-me moment,” said St. Louis, who currently stars as Sandra Dee in “Just in Time.”

Broadway Milers raised a record-setting $30,000—double last year’s amount—to provide nearly 12,000 meals to those in need. Fundraising efforts were led by top team fundraiser “The Book of Mormon” and top individual fundraiser Ethan Popp of “The Lost Boys.” During the first two years of the Broadway Mile, the running and theater communities have collaborated to raise more than $45,000 for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

NYRR ROAD MILE CHAMPIONSHIP

In heats featuring fields of local elite runners, The NYRR Road Mile Championships were won by Alana Levy and Braden Nicholson. Levy, representing Brooklyn Track Club won the women’s race in 4:37.9, while Nicholson, of Boulder, Colorado, broke the men’s tape in 3:57.9.

ADDITIONAL SPECIALTY HEATS

The shortest race distance offered by New York Road Runners, the New Balance 5th Avenue Mile is an accessible event for both beginners and seasoned athletes. In addition to the professional athlete races and Broadway Mile, other specialty heats included the Back to School Mile—one of more than 20 free Rising New York Road Runners youth events produced by the nonprofit each year—for kids ages 2–18 to start the school year strong; the George Sheehan Memorial Mile for older adults; an NYPD and FDNY heat for service members; the Media Mile for journalists; and the NYRR Unlock 26.2 x New Balance heat for participants of the dedicated TCS New York City Marathon training program.

Additionally, the day’s first heat featured members of theNYRR Open Run New Runner Clinic, with participants concluding their training by running their first-ever mile.

“Don’t let your age stop you [because] it’s only a number. Step by step, get to that mile, even if you [have to] walk and run,” said Lebby Delgado, a 70-year-old graduate of the NYRR Open Run New Runner Clinic who ran her first-ever race at the New Balance 5th Avenue Mile.

About New York Road Runners (NYRR)

A New York City-based nonprofit, New York Road Runners’ vision is to build healthier lives and stronger communities through the transformative power of running – serving more than half a million people annually through its races, free community events, youth running initiatives, and school-based programs across the five boroughs. During its nearly 70 years, New York Road Runners has grown from a local running club to the world’s premier community running organization, producing more than 60 adult and youth races each year, including the TCS New York City Marathon. Held the first Sunday each November, the TCS New York City Marathon features nearly 60,000 runners—from the world’s best professional athletes to a vast range of runners across experience levels, ages, genders, abilities, and backgrounds. To learn more, visit www.nyrr.org.