New York Road Runners (NYRR) is celebrating its first National Sports Emmy Award nomination for the documentary short film ‘Final Finishers’. The doc, released by NYRR’s East 89th St Productions in partnership with Tribeca Studios, has been recognised in the Outstanding Sports Documentary Short category.
The nomination was announced by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS), with winners scheduled to be revealed at a ceremony at Lincoln Center in New York City on May 26, 2026.
NYRR is a non-profit organisation that produces 60 annual adult and youth races, including the TCS New York City Marathon. While the organisation has previously won New York Emmy awards for its marathon broadcasts in 2024 and 2025, this marks its first nomination on a national level.
Directed by Rudy Valdez, ‘Final Finishers’ focuses on athletes at the back of the pack during major races such as the TCS New York City Marathon. The 30-minute film originally premiered during the 2025 Tribeca Festival and is currently available to stream on ESPN+ and Disney+.
Rob Simmelkjaer, CEO of New York Road Runners, said “This nomination is an incredible honour for New York Road Runners and a testament to the power of storytelling to embody our non-profit mission of transforming lives through movement. ‘Final Finishers’ reflects our commitment to telling the full breadth of the running experience, spotlighting the everyday athletes whose journeys are just as inspiring as the champions.”
The film was produced through East 89th St Productions, a content studio dedicated to original storytelling within the running community. The studio’s name pays tribute to the organisation’s former headquarters on the Upper East Side.
Tribeca Studios, the original content division of Tribeca Enterprises, co-produced the project. The documentary features executive producers Berry Welsh, Jacqui Moore, and Rudy Valdez, with cinematography also handled by Valdez.
NYRR serves more than half a million people annually through its races and free community programs across the five boroughs of New York City. Its flagship event, the TCS New York City Marathon, features more than 50,000 runners each November.
