Jennifer Connelly completed the November 1, 2026, New York City Marathon in 3:40:09 for Fred’s Team, supporting cancer research at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Her time improved on her 2024 result, while the race’s charity program passed $100 million before race day. The results highlight both individual performances and charitable fundraising.
Key Takeaways
- Jennifer Connelly finished the November 1, 2026, NYC Marathon in 3:40:09, improving her 2024 time by five minutes and 38 seconds
- Connelly ran for Fred’s Team, which raises funds for cancer research at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
- New York Road Runners reported surpassing its $100 million charity fundraising goal on October 28, before race day
- Antoni Porowski completed the marathon in 4:22:15 while supporting New York food rescue nonprofit City Harvest
- The 2026 race marked 50 years of the five-borough marathon course and featured victories by Andreas Almgren and Sheila Chepkirui
Jennifer Connelly returned to the New York City Marathon on Sunday, November 1, completing the 26.2-mile race faster than she had two years earlier. New York Road Runners confirmed her finishing time of 3:40:09 and identified Fred’s Team as the organization she supported.
The Academy Award-winning actress joined a field that included professional athletes, entertainment figures and thousands of charity runners. Her finish coincided with the 50th anniversary of the marathon’s five-borough course and a major fundraising milestone announced before race day.
Jennifer Connelly’s NYC Marathon Time Improves on 2024
Connelly’s 2026 performance marked a measurable improvement over her previous New York City Marathon finish. According to New York Road Runners’ official records, she completed the 2024 race in 3:45:47, compared with 3:40:09 on November 1, 2026.
The difference of five minutes and 38 seconds gave her a faster recorded finish on the same marathon course. The organizer’s race report confirmed her result but did not provide details about her training or preparations for the event.
Connelly’s charitable participation also continued a connection documented during her earlier marathon appearance. In 2024, she ran in support of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, one of New York’s major cancer research and treatment institutions.
For the 2026 race, she supported Fred’s Team, the center’s official running program. The organization raises funds for cancer research and clinical trials through marathon participation and other endurance events.
Fred’s Team provides runners with fundraising tools, training resources and opportunities to support research at Memorial Sloan Kettering. Participants can establish personal fundraising pages and collect donations tied to their races.
New York Road Runners recognizes Fred’s Team and its own Team for Kids as the two legacy Gold Level partners in its official marathon charity program. Although Connelly’s participation and finishing time were confirmed, the organizer’s race recap did not disclose an individual fundraising total for her.
NYC Marathon Charity Fundraising Surpasses $100 Million
Connelly’s participation came during a significant fundraising year for the New York City Marathon. On October 28, New York Road Runners announced that its Official Charity Partner Program had already exceeded its $100 million fundraising goal for 2026.
The milestone was reached before the November 1 race, making it an established fundraising result rather than an estimate based on expected race-day donations.
“Surpassing our $100 million fundraising goal is a remarkable testament to the generosity and dedication of our runners, charity partners, and supporters,” said Rob Simmelkjaer, CEO of New York Road Runners.
The organization reported working with more than 670 official charity partners in 2026, its largest group to date. Approximately 60 percent were based in New York City, compared with 52 percent in 2025.
The previous year’s figures provide context for the expansion. According to New York Road Runners, more than 14,000 charity runners raised $80 million for over 600 nonprofit organizations during the 2025 marathon.
The charity partner program connects selected nonprofits with runners through guaranteed, noncomplimentary race entries. Runners then fundraise for their participating organizations, supporting causes that range from medical research to community services.
The $100 million milestone represents fundraising across the official charity program. It should not be interpreted as an amount raised by Connelly or any other individual celebrity participant.
Antoni Porowski Supports City Harvest Through the Marathon
Connelly was not the only entertainment figure participating on behalf of a New York nonprofit. Antoni Porowski, known for Netflix’s Queer Eye, completed the marathon in 4:22:15 while supporting City Harvest.
City Harvest is a New York City nonprofit that collects surplus food and distributes it to food pantries, soup kitchens and community organizations. Its work focuses on providing food to residents experiencing food insecurity across the five boroughs.
The organization has participated in the New York City Marathon’s official charity program for 14 years. For 2026, City Harvest reported a team of 125 runners and set a fundraising goal intended to help provide food for more than 1.3 million New Yorkers.
Porowski’s involvement added a recognizable participant to that broader fundraising effort. New York Road Runners confirmed his charity affiliation and finishing time, although it did not identify an individual donation total in its results announcement.
City Harvest has also received support through other public events, including a celebrity chefs sports fundraiser bringing together restaurateurs, athletes and entertainment figures. Such events provide additional fundraising opportunities beyond the marathon.
The nonprofit also had a role in the marathon’s event operations. Ahead of race day, New York Road Runners announced plans to donate leftover event food to City Harvest as part of its sustainability program.
In 2025, the organizer reported donating 17,620 pounds of leftover food. That figure provides historical context for the partnership, although the pre-race announcement did not establish a final food donation total for the 2026 event.
Elite Marathon Results Share Attention With Celebrity Finishers
While celebrity participation drew interest, the November 1 marathon also produced several notable professional results.
Sweden’s Andreas Almgren won the men’s open division in 2:06:01, securing victory in his marathon debut. He moved ahead of Italy’s Yemaneberhan Crippa during the final mile and became the first Swedish athlete to win a division at the New York City Marathon.
Kenya’s Sheila Chepkirui won the women’s open division in 2:24:36, recording her second New York City Marathon victory in three years. American Jessica McClain finished second, six seconds behind Chepkirui, becoming the first American woman to reach the race’s open-division podium since 2018.
The wheelchair competitions also featured established champions. Switzerland’s Marcel Hug won the men’s wheelchair division in 1:28:14, extending his New York record to eight victories, while Catherine Debrunner won the women’s division in 1:40:02.
Several entertainment and media personalities recorded finishes alongside Connelly and Porowski. Filmmaker Casey Neistat completed the race in 2:57:25, while television personality Dylan Efron finished in 3:28:11.
Former New York Giants running back Tiki Barber also completed the course, recording 5:11:49. Their official finishing times provided measurable results for an event that brought competitive athletes and public figures onto the same citywide course.
The Five-Borough Marathon Marks a 50-Year Milestone
The 2026 marathon also commemorated a major change in the event’s history. The first New York City Marathon took place in 1970, when 55 runners finished a course consisting of multiple loops around Central Park.
In 1976, the race expanded to include all five boroughs as part of celebrations marking the United States Bicentennial. The November 1, 2026, event marked the 50th anniversary of that expansion.
The 2026 NYC Marathon route also featured the event’s first course adjustment in 15 years. Organizers modified a section in the Bronx to reduce disruption to neighborhood access while retaining the traditional 26.2-mile distance.
Participants began on Staten Island, crossed into Brooklyn and continued through Queens, Manhattan and the Bronx before finishing in Central Park. The route connected the anniversary celebration with residential neighborhoods and commercial districts throughout the city.
New York Road Runners also outlined environmental measures for the 2026 event, including self-service water refill stations and nine waste diversion stations supported by 130 volunteers. The announced initiatives were intended to reduce event waste and expand recovery efforts.
The anniversary year brought together professional competition, charity fundraising and participation from public figures supporting established nonprofits.
For Jennifer Connelly, the NYC Marathon result was documented through an official finish of 3:40:09 and her affiliation with Fred’s Team. The broader $100 million fundraising milestone reflected the combined work of the marathon’s charity partners, while her individual fundraising total was not specified in the race organizer’s announcement.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was Jennifer Connelly’s NYC Marathon finish time?
Jennifer Connelly completed the 2026 New York City Marathon in 3:40:09 on November 1. Her time improved on her 2024 finish of 3:45:47 by five minutes and 38 seconds.
Which charity did Jennifer Connelly support during the marathon?
Connelly ran in support of Fred’s Team, the official running program of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. The program raises money for cancer research and clinical trials through endurance events.
How much did the 2026 NYC Marathon raise for charity?
New York Road Runners announced on October 28, 2026, that its Official Charity Partner Program had surpassed $100 million in fundraising. The amount covered contributions across more than 670 participating charity organizations, not a single runner’s campaign.
Did Antoni Porowski participate in the 2026 NYC Marathon?
Yes. Porowski completed the race in 4:22:15 while supporting City Harvest, a New York City nonprofit focused on food rescue and hunger relief.
Who won the 2026 New York City Marathon?
Andreas Almgren won the men’s open division in 2:06:01, while Sheila Chepkirui won the women’s open division in 2:24:36. Marcel Hug and Catherine Debrunner won the men’s and women’s wheelchair divisions, respectively.
