New York Road Runners (NYRR) has secured its first-ever National Sports Emmy Award in the Outstanding Sports Documentary Short category for its film ‘Final Finishers‘.
The documentary short film is the first project released by East 89th St Productions, the original content studio of the running non-profit. Co-produced alongside Tribeca Studios, the film was honoured at the 47th Annual Sports Emmy Awards on May 26, 2026, at Lincoln Center in New York City.
New York Road Runners is a New York City-based non-profit that produces 60 annual adult and youth races, serving more than half a million people each year. The organisation’s event portfolio includes the TCS New York City Marathon.
Its original content studio, East 89th St Productions, is dedicated to long-form storytelling that highlights the running community. Last year, the studio released the documentary short film ‘26.2’, with further projects expected to be announced soon.
Rob Simmelkjaer, Chief Executive Officer at New York Road Runners, said “This recognition is an extraordinary honor for New York Road Runners and a powerful validation of our commitment to telling stories that reflect the full spectrum of the running experience. ‘Final Finishers’ embodies our belief in the power of every step to transform lives by shining a light on runners whose courage, determination, and humanity inspire us all.
“We are grateful to the academy and to everyone who helped bring this project to life, and we are proud to see these athletes and their stories celebrated on one of the biggest stages in sports media.”
Directed by filmmaker Rudy Valdez, ‘Final Finishers’ captures the back-of-the-pack runners during mass participation events, including the TCS New York City Marathon.
Rudy Valdez said “I couldn’t be more grateful for this recognition for a film that, at its heart, is about humanity, resilience, and what it means to keep putting one foot in front of the other. This project was made possible by the extraordinary runners who shared their stories and by the incredible partnership and support from New York Road Runners and Tribeca Studios. I’m honored that these inspiring runners are being celebrated on this stage.”
Developed, produced, and distributed in partnership with Tribeca Studios, ‘Final Finishers’ premiered during the 2025 Tribeca Festival with support from New York Road Runners partner New Balance. The 30-minute film is currently available to stream on ESPN+ and Disney+.
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