World record holder Agnes Ngetich sets new open division event record in Mastercard New York Mini 10K debut
Paralympic champion Tatyana McFadden captures her first-ever wheelchair division title
Mastercard New York Mini 10K and Girls Run set new finisher records with more than 10,000 women racing through Central Park and more than 500 girls in youth event
New York, June 6, 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 and providing free year-round youth and community programs, hosted the largest Mastercard New York Mini 10K ever today with 10,084 women crossing the finish line in Central Park—surpassing the 10,000-finisher mark for the first time in event history. What began in 1972 as the world’s original women-only road race with just 72 finishers has grown into an empowering celebration of community and women’s running, with more than a quarter million finishers over the last five decades.
This year’s race was led by a professional athlete field featuring 10 Olympians and Paralympians, 9 global medalists, and multiple national record holders representing 11 countries.
In her Mastercard New York Mini 10K debut, Kenya’s Agnes Ngetich—the women’s world record holder at 10K—delivered a masterclass wire-to-wire victory, dominating the race from the first mile to capture the open division title in 30:07. Her time seta new event record and is the fastest women’s 10K ever run on American soil.
Ngetich won by 46 seconds, with Ethiopian Olympian and 2023 World Athletics Cross Country Championships silver medalist Tsigie Gebreselama finishing second in 30:53. Defending TCS New York City Marathon and United Airlines NYC Half champion Hellen Obiri placed third in 31:10.
On her 27th birthday, Emily Venters had a breakthrough race, drastically improving on her 17th place performance last year to finish fourth as the top American, while setting a new personal best of 31:36. Venters led the way for five Americans in the top ten. Two-time national champion Ednah Kurgat finished sixth, followed by Boston Marathon American course record holder Jess McClain in eighth, with Annie Rodenfels, three-time Abbott Dash to the Finish Line 5K champion, and Annie Frisbie, the second American woman at the 2025 TCS New York City Marathon, rounding out the top ten.
In her first trip to the U.S., Slovenian Olympian and European road 10K record holder Klara Lukan finished fifth in 31:38. Three of the top five finishers made their Mastercard New York Mini 10K debuts, including Gebreselama and Lukan competing in their first-ever New York Road Runners races.
“I want to do this [race] again and again, said Ngetich on the NYRR Set the Pace Presented by Peloton podcast after her record-breaking win. “I’m so privileged to be invited for the Mini 10K … It’s my favorite race already. I really loved the crowd, every corner was like, ‘Go, go, Agnes, go Agnes’…it was so fun, I could have ran 20K.”
The wheelchair division saw a new champion for the first time since it was introduced in 2018, as 22-time U.S. Paralympic medalist Tatyana McFadden broke the tape in 22:50. Today’s victory was McFadden’s first Mastercard New York Mini 10K win, adding to her five TCS New York City Marathon and two United Airlines NYC Half titles.
McFadden was followed by compatriot and fellow Paralympian Hannah Dederick in 25:24 and Egypt’s Hoda Elshorbagy in 25:44. Elshorbagy made her professional wheelchair racing debut at the 2023 edition of the Mastercard New York Mini 10K and made her first podium appearance at a New York Road Runners event today.
“The race was really good… It’s a fast course, and it’s hilly, so I like to just go out from the start and keep it ahead,” McFadden said on ESPN+ and abc7ny.com following her victory.“It’s a great day to have a women’s race, and it was an overall great day…everyone was out and about cheering on all the women out there.”
Among the thousands of finishers were more than 70 “Crazylegs,” a moniker given fondly to participants who have run the New York Mini 10K at least 15 times in honor of the original name of the race, the Crazylegs Mini Marathon. More than 70 Crazylegs registered for this year’s race, with 15 additional runners expected to reach Crazylegs status after completing the 2026 event.
More than 40 Run for the Future program alumnae also finished the 2026 Mastercard New York Mini 10K. Celebrating its 15th anniversary in 2026, New York Road Runners’ Run for the Future is a free six-week program that introduces young women in high school to running, focusing on fitness, nutrition, mental health, and body image, and culminating in participants running their first 5K. The experience kicks off many young women’s running journeys and creates connections that last beyond the program.
Notable and Inspiring Runners
Among the 10,000+ finishers were several notable and inspiring women including:
- Chantal W. (Philadelphia, Pa.) (58:13): A “Crazylegs” runner who has been running the New York Mini 10K nearly every year since 1999, when her mother first inspired her to start running. The two always ran the race together—even through her mother’s chemotherapy treatments—until her passing in 2015. Chantal now runs every race in her mom’s memory, wearing a photo of her on her bib.
- Cathleen London (Teaneck, N.J.) (58:30): A triathlete, marathon runner, doctor, and lawyer who returned to run the Mastercard New York Mini 10K after having a brain tumor removed last April. Six months after her own surgery, her son was also diagnosed with a brain tumor after an ER visit—a devastating coincidence that inspired her to use running to raise funds for brain tumor research.
- Shira Stein (Morningside Heights, New York, N.Y.) (58:41): A breast cancer survivor who turned to running to take care of her health, feel more confident in her body after a double mastectomy, and set an example of strength and resilience for her 12-year-old daughter.
- Denise Peralta (Elmhurst, Queens, N.Y.) (1:01:53): An alumna of NYRR Run for the Future, a free six-week program introducing young women in high school to running, who returned to the sport last year after a decade away. Her first race back was the 2025 Mastercard New York Mini 10K, making this year’s race a meaningful milestone in her running journey as part of the Run for the Future community. This summer, she’ll give back to the program as a Race Buddy for the incoming class.
- Jennafer Newberry Peery (1:06:33): Actress currently in Broadway’s “Wicked”as Glinda’s standby, who ran her second-ever New York Road Runners race after the 2025 Broadway Mile. Peery is performing in both the matinee and evening shows after her race.
- Danielle Todman (Scotch Plains, N.J.) (1:11:41): A track & field and cross country coach celebrating her 20-year anniversary of joining the Air Force. A domestic violence survivor who has found strength and community through women’s running, she now hopes to use her experience to create a safe space for her student athletes.
“I was really emotional at the start,” said Peery. “Then seeing all the dads with kids knowing their moms were on the course, and just seeing so many people cheering on so many women. It was so cool to be here with over 10,000 women. Women are really awesome, and I love being a woman!”
“Finishing the New York Mini 10K was absolutely amazing. I had the opportunity to run alongside my fellow Run for the Future peers who encouraged and empowered each other every step of the way,” said Peralta. “I feel incredibly overjoyed with the progress I’ve made.”
Girls Run
In addition to the adult 10K, 595 girls ages 8–18participated in free races as part of the 10th anniversary of the Girls Run, marking the largest Girls Run in history since it was first held in 2016. The youth races crossed the same start line as the adults, allowing girls to follow in the footsteps of the women-only professional athletes and adult participants for a fun and rewarding experience, encouraging them to be physically active and building their confidence to cross any finish line. The Girls Run is one of more than 20 free Rising New York Road Runners youth events the nonprofit hosts each year. Participants included members of Rising New York Road Runners, a free running-based youth program that serves more than 200,000 students nationwide, with 100,000 students in New York City.
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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 more than 55,000 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.