NYC Marathon: Kenyan Marathoners’ Runaway with Elite Titles

Richard Wanekeya,

Correspondent (Sport)

 

Kenyans Geoffrey Mutai and Priscah Jeptoo won New York City Marathon titles on Sunday 3rd 2013 as elite runners returned to the streets of New York a year after Hurricane Sandy forced the race organizers to nullify the 2012 edition reluctantly.

Mutai, who was the defending champion of the 2011 New York crown, captured the men’s title in a time of 02:08:24 after edging out Tsegaye Kebede of Ethiopia who crossed the line at 02:09:16.

In a strategic winning maneuver, Mutai started to pull away from and other runners at around Mile 22 to eventually beat Ethiopia’s Tsegaye Kebede by 52 seconds at the cross line thereby becoming the first man to retain the New York Marathon title following the footsteps of Kenyan compatriot, John Kagwe who defended the title in 1997-98.

Mutai is thought to be one of the fastest marathoners in the world, after posting a time of 2:03:02 on Boston’s hilly course in 2011. In the same year, he won the New York City Marathon , shattering the course record by more than two and a half minutes.

Position 3 to 10 was taken by Lusapho April (South Africa), Julius Arile (Kenya), Stanley Biwott (Kenya), Masato Imai Japan), Jackson Kiprop (Uganda), Peter Cheruiyot Kirui (Kenya), Wesley Korir (Kenya), Daniele Meucci (Italy) respectively.

Jeptoo Replicates London Excellence

In the women’s category, Kenya’s Priscah Jeptoo, the reigning London Marathon champion who also finished second at last year’s London Olympics, came from behind to win the New York City Marathon after beating Ethiopias Buzunesh Deba with a time of 02:25:07.

Deba, who was New York 2011 runner up and training partner Tigist Tufa, raced to the front from the start of the race, pulling ahead and maintaining a large lead deep into the event. Jeptoo began closing the gap with eight miles remaining and eventually caught up with the race leaders. The charging Jeptoo passed Deba in Central Park with just under two miles remaining and surged quickly to a substantial lead. Buzunesh Deba (Ethiopia) managed second position with a time of 02:25:07.

Also in the race, Jelena Prokopcuka (Latvia), Christelle Daunay (France), Valeria Straneo (Italy), Kim Smith(New Zealand), Sabrina Mockenhaupt (Germany), Tigist Tufa Demisse (Ethiopia), Edna Kiplagat (Kenya), Diane Nukuri-Johnson (Burundi) took position 3 to 10 respectively.

Tatyana McFadden Completes Slam

In the women’s Top Pushrim Wheelchairs category, Tatyana McFadden of USA made history by completing a sweep of the Boston, London, Chicago and New York marathons in a single year! The American crossed the finish line with a time of 01:59:13. Swiss Marcel Hug won the men’s wheelchair race 01:40:14.

Image Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons