Wicklow's Fionnuala McCormack Makes History With 10th Place Finish In New York City Marathon

The remarkable Fionnuala McCormack’s top-10 finish in the 2025 New York City Marathon is a massive achievement with the veteran Wicklow athlete showing how her vast experience can help achieve new heights

Ireland’s Fionnuala McCormack delivered a standout performance at the 2025 New York City Marathon, finishing 10th overall in the women’s elite race with a time of 2:27:00.

This result marked her best-ever placement at the iconic race and was the best finish by an Irish woman in marathon history at New York.

McCormack, who has long been one of Ireland's top distance runners, was in the mix from the start.

She passed the halfway point at around 72 minutes, pacing herself to a sub-2:24 finish early on.

Over the second half of the race, McCormack moved up from 13th place to secure a top-10 finish, showing her trademark strength in the latter miles.

Her average pace was an impressive 3:29 per kilometre, a strong rhythm that helped her navigate New York’s challenging course and varying race conditions.

This performance is a testament to McCormack’s versatility and durability, having switched from steeplechase and cross-country events to marathon racing in recent years.

The result also highlights her remarkable longevity, with the 2025 marathon marking yet another milestone in a career that has seen her represent Ireland at five Olympic Games and multiple World Championships.

Fionnuala McCormack in her post-race interview with The Irish Times expressed her satisfaction:

"I’m absolutely delighted with how the race went. To finish 10th in New York, one of the toughest marathons in the world, and to post my best-ever result here is incredibly rewarding. It’s been a long journey, and it feels great to see all the hard work pay off."