Keitany, 33, becomes the eighth woman to win the event back-to-back. Steadily Biwott, who finished second in last year’s London Marathon, increased the gap and powered over the line clear for the biggest win of his career so far.
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Kipsang and fellow Kenyan Mary Keitany look to defend their titles Sunday at the New York City Marathon in what could also be an audition for the team that goes to next summer’s Rio Games.
Ebonny Fowler, 40, from Harlem, ran her first marathon Sunday. “Thank you very much”.
Russo – who finished in 5 hours, 32 minutes, 13 seconds – wasn’t the only one running to honor a loved one.
The fastest American woman coming into the race, 18-year-old Alana Hadley, dropped out a little past the halfway point.
Finishing second was Aselefech Mergia.
News 12’s own Jessica Cunnington is running in the marathon. Up the long gradual slope on the 24th mile along Fifth Avenue, it was Biwott who edged in front.
“The pace was slow at the beginning, and I was in the mix”, Keflezighi said. There, I talked race strategy with Paula Radcliffe, the former world champion. “So I was just beginning to pass a certain speed (indiscernible)”. So I knew reaching the park there was an uphill. “It would mean a lot to me and also to my life”.
The race kicked off at 8:30 a.m. Sunday with the wheelchair division, followed by hand cycle competitors and select disabled athletes, then professional women.
And it was a Kenyan sweep as Stanley Biwott led the way for the men in 2 hours and 10 and 34 seconds. For just the third time, the race will have a grand marshal.
“I’m ready to go to try to get the medal in Rio next year”, she said. “I was nervous at the start and halfway through didn’t think I’d make it under four hours”. And after 35 (kilometers), I was just alone in the street, and I kept on going. Keitany attributed her success to patience and biding her time.
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“I’m really excited”, he said. “I had fun. Thank you”. She placed fourth at the London Olympics and missed all of 2013 due to childbirth. So I had to be patient today and wait.
