Jess McClain, the 34-year-old from Scottsdale, Arizona, who has been a fan favorite ever since she reemerged on the American running scene with her fourth-place finish at the Olympic Marathon Trials in 2024, finished second at the New York City Marathon in 2:24:42. She said in an interview with ESPN after the race that she didn’t feel great through the first 18 miles. But it was a good day not to feel great, because the race went out in a pedestrian 1:13:52 for the first half.
As the lead pack made its way up Fifth Avenue, McClain’s face betrayed no pain. She also wasn’t alone—three other American women, Weini Kelati, the American record holder in the half marathon, making her debut, Carrie Ellwood, and Paige Wood—were also in the lead pack. The race broke open at mile 23 with eventual champion Sheila Chepkirui and defending champion Hellen Obiri, both of Kenya, creating a seven-second gap.
But McClain, in her mint green Brooks kit, was always visible lurking in the distance. And notably, she ran the tangents through the curves of Central Park, while the leaders stayed in the middle of the road, adding distance. As they turned off of Central Park South and back into Central Park, they passed the sign that reads, “400 meters to go.” Chepkirui opened up in the final 200 meters, winning by six seconds.
And with mere feet to go until the finish line, McClain overtook Obiri. McClain is no stranger to Central Park, having raced the women’s Mini 10K in June and the Dash to the Finish Line 5K the day before the New York City Marathon. She was eighth in the NYC Marathon in 2024.
Behind McClain, Ellwood, 32, finished sixth in 2:26:28, Kelati, 29, was seventh in 2:26:51, and Wood, 30, was eighth in 2:27:29, bold racing against tough international competition. Ellwood didn’t merit a bio page in the New York City Marathon media guide, although she ran 2:22:53 at Boston in April. Combining prize money for top 10 overall and for top American finishes, McClain, who works full-time for nonprofits in Arizona, won $85,000.
Ellwood earns $25,000, and Kelati takes home $17,500. The last American woman to make the podium at New York was Shalane Flanagan, who was third in 2018 and won in 2017. McClain’s top-five finish gives her qualification for the Olympic marathon in 2028; but first she’ll need to finish in the top three at the U.S.
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