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How Kenyan Athletes turned New York Marathon into a home affair.

05/11/2018
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Keitany, with a time of 2:22:48, became the second female ever to win four New York City Marathons.

Keitany beat countrywoman Vivian Cheruiyot by 3 minutes, 13 seconds. American Shalane Flanagan, last year’s winner, finished third.

Keitany pulled away after the 28km mark before gliding on to win her fourth New York City Marathon with the second fastest time on the course. Margaret Okayo of Kenya set the record of 2:22:31 in 2003.

Keitany – who won on the course back-to-back in 2014, 2015 and 2016 – claimed the London Marathon victory last year in all women’s World Record time of 2:17:01.

“I can say the course record was not in my mind,” Keitany said. “For me, winning was very important.”

The marathon kicked off Sunday morning under clear skies, with more than 50,000 participants taking part.

After showers on Friday and Saturday, the weather held with starting time temperatures at five degrees Celsius under clear skies, conditions that got warmer as the race progressed, ideal marathon conditions.

All four winners of last year’s race were back working to defend their titles.

American Shalane Flanagan and Kenyan Geoffrey Kamworor were hoping to repeat, along with Schar and Marcel Hug – both from Switzerland – in the wheelchair division.

Ethiopia’s Lelisa Desisa edged out defending champion Kamworor in the last two kilometres to win this year’s New York City Marathon.

Desisa, the winner of the 2013 and 2015 Boston Marathon, and Kamworor, the World Half Marathon champion, went neck-to-neck with four kilometres to go.

However, Desisa, who finished second in 2014 before settling third in 2015 and last year respectively, went for the kill at the 40km, dropping Kamworor to clock the second fastest time of the course of 2 hours, 05 minutes 59 seconds.

Desisa missed Kenya Geoffrey Mutai’s course record by 54 seconds. Mutai won in 2011 with a course record time of 2:05:05.

The reigning London Marathon champion Kenya Vivian Cheruiyot, rallied from fourth place at the 30km mark and one minute off the pace, to finish second in 2:26:02 as the defending champion Shalane Flanagan from the USA, settled third in 2:26:20.

The women hit the half way mark in a group in 1:15:49 before Keitany, Gudeta and Tusa broke away from the park, passing the 25km mark 1:28:23.

Family support played a huge role in the results of the TCS New York Marathon with Mary Keitany winning her fourth title at the “Big Apple” ahead of Cheruiyot.

Both Kenyans are accompanied here by their families, Cheruiyot’s husband and coach Moses Kiplagat travelling along with the young Kiprono and Keitany boosted to the second fastest time ever here by her husband-coach Charles Koech and children Samantha (five) and Jared (10).

Keitany’s winning time had an amazing second half split of 66:58 that blew away her opponents.

Many Potical leaders have also congartulated the athletes who have lifted the name of the country higher through their efforts.

 

https://twitter.com/UKenyatta/status/1059172409729724417

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