For the New York Marathon, a Triumphant Return
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| PHOTO/The ING New York City Marathon-AP |
By Sara Germano
For Kenyan Geoffrey Mutai, the race marked a different sort of return—to the winners' podium, following his victory at the 2011 edition of the race. The win, in 2 hours, 8 minutes and 24 seconds, made Mutai, 32, the first man to win consecutive New York City Marathons since John Kagwe of Kenya did it in 1997 and 1998.
On a windy, overcast day, a record 50,740 runners started the 43rd edition of the race, further solidifying its rank as the largest marathon in the world. As of late Sunday, the race had proceeded without incident as runners continued to cross the finish line in Central Park. It was bolstered by extra security from the NYPD and limitations on backpacks and other attire for participants.
New York Road Runners chief executive and marathon race director Mary Wittenberg said there were "zero incidents and zero threats." Ms. Wittenberg fought back tears during the afternoon as many thousands continued to the finish.
"It's mostly happiness," she said of her emotions. "It's an important day for the city." Mutai's fellow Kenyan, 29-year-old Priscah Jeptoo, won the women's division, finishing in 2 hours, 25 minutes and 7 seconds. She also won the 2013 London Marathon this spring, and with her win Sunday became the 2012-13 World Marathon Majors overall champion, earning her an additional $500,000 on top of the $100,000 prize awarded to each of the winners in New York.
Sunday marked the third time in the race's history that Kenyans have won both the men's and women's titles. The U.S. is the only other nation to have completed the same feat, most recently in 1977.
The top American men and women each grabbed 13th place overall. Ryan Vail, 27, of Portland, Ore., ran 2:13.23, while Adriana Nelson, 33, of Fort Collins, Colo., finished in 2:35.05. Meb Keflezighi,38, the men's 2009 New York City Marathon champion and perennial American favorite, finished 23rd in 2:23.47.
The men's and women's races unfolded in very different fashions. On the women's side, Ethiopian Buzunesh Deba broke away at the start, leading the race with countrywoman Tigist Tufa Demisse and establishing a lead of more than three minutes over their challengers by the halfway point. Ms. Jeptoo started chipping away at the lead during the race's fast, flat stretch on First Avenue in Manhattan, eventually passing Ms. Deba at mile 24.
"I'm very happy," Ms. Jeptoo said. "I used a lot of energy chasing the lead group, and it was very windy."
Ms. Deba, who lives and trains in New York City, went on to finish second, repeating her finish at the 2011 race. A local favorite, she thanked her supporters from the Bronx, but said she felt ill after mile 8, when stomach cramps began to creep up on her.
"I thought I came first place, but I know her," Ms. Deba said of Ms. Jeptoo. "She is very strong, and I was sick. My pace goes down. It was too cold and windy, but I'm so happy I came second."
Jelena Prokopcuka of Latvia, the 2005 and 2006 champion, finished third. She had been one of the elites slated to run last year's marathon, and had just arrived in New York when she learned the race had been called off due to the storm. Of Sunday's race, she said, "My dream has come true. I really wanted to be on the podium."
In the men's race, a close pack of more than a dozen stuck together to fight off gusting winds through the early miles of the race, with runners eventually dropping off one by one. Mr. Mutai and countryman Stanley Biwott made a late charge around mile 20 in the Bronx, with Mr. Mutai increasing his lead into the finish.
Ethiopian Tsegaye Kebede went on to finish second, and Lusapho April of South Africa finished third.
Mr. Mutai's win was perhaps foreshadowed by key performances from his training partners, fellow Kenyans Wilson Kipsang and Dennis Kimetto. Mr. Kipsang set the current world record of 2:03.23 at the Berlin Marathon in September, and Mr. Kimetto was the winner of last month's Chicago Marathon.
"We don't say that this is the only way to win. But when we train, you see that we train together. So when one wins, you normally know that everyone is near there," Mr. Mutai said.
To win twice in New York, he said, "it was not easy. For me, it's a glory."
Mr. Kebede, 26, the second-place finisher, was the men's winner of the World Marathon Majors title, which grants points for top finishes in several of the most elite marathons over the 2012-2013 period, including the Olympic and World Championships marathons.
Mr. April, 31, marked the return of a South African to the podium for the first since Hendrick Ramaala finished third in 2007.
In the wheelchair division, Tatyana McFadden, 24 of Clarksville, Md., secured an unprecedented marathon grand slam, winning in 1:59.13, following wins in the Boston, London, and Chicago marathons this year. Marcel Hug, 27, of Switzerland won the men's wheelchair race in 1:40.14.
SOURCE: Wall Street Journal
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