Kenyans Mary Keitany and Wilson Kipsang surged to a clean sweep of the men’s and women’s titles at the 2014 TCS New York City Marathon on Sunday.
In the men’s race, former marathon world-record holder [link id=”299″ tax=”post_tag” text=” Wilson Kipsang”] and his training partner, two-time defending champion [link id=”324″ tax=”post_tag” text=”Geoffrey Mutai”], had very large stakes.
If Kipsang won, he’d overtake Dennis Kimetto for the 2013–2014 World Marathon Majors title, worth US$500,000. But he’d have to beat Mutai, who would earn $100,000 if he won and would become the first male three-time champion since Alberto Salazar in 1982.
Kipsang and Mutai ran in tandem at the front with seven others still in contact until the 20-mile mark . But after they turned to the south and acquired a tailwind, a two-man break was made with Mutai dropped by Wilson Kipsang and Ethiopian [link id=”569″ tax=”post_tag” text=”Lelisa Desisa”].
Kipsang overcame Desisa to take the New York Marathon title in 2:10:59 thus claiming victories the Berlin, London and New York marathons in just over 13 months.
Ethiopia’s Lelisa Desisa settled for second in 2:11:03 while his compatriot and 2010 New York winner Gebre Gebremariam took third in 2:12:13
“I’m used to a fast pace from the start,” said the Kipsang after the race. “Here, with no pacemakers and so much wind, I had to exercise patience.”
Keitany’s redemption
In her first marathon after the birth of her second child and despite not having run a marathon since finishing fourth at the 2012 Olympics in London, [link id=”141″ tax=”post_tag” text=”Mary Keitany”] edged out fellow Kenyan [link id=”570″ tax=”post_tag” text=”Jemima Sumgong”] in the last mile to win the women’s title.
Mary Keitany crossed the line in 2:25:07, ahead of Jemima Sumgong ( 2:25:10) and debutant Sara Moreira of Portugal, who finished third in 2:26:00.
“I worked hard for this opportunity,” said Keitany who got redemption for the disastrous race in 2011 where she raced out to a big lead only to be passed and forced to settle for third place in New York.
Play race video
Selected Results
Women:
- Mary Keitany (KEN) 2:25:07
- Jemima Sumgong (KEN) 2:25:10
- Sara Moreira (POR) 2:25:59
- Jelena Prokopcuka (LAT) 2:26:15
- Desiree Linden (USA) 2:28:10
- Rkia El Moukim (MAR) 2:28:12
- Firehiwot Dado (ETH) 2:28:35
Men:
- Wilson Kipsang (KEN) 2:10:59
- Lelisa Desisa (ETH) 2:11:03
- Gebre Gebremariam (ETH) 2:12:13
- Meb Keflezighi (USA) 2:13:18
- Stephen Kiprotich (UGA) 2:13:25
- Geoffrey Mutai (KEN) 2:13:44
- Masato Imai (JPN) 2:14:36
Meet The Authors
Yomog Meje is a former Nigerian junior athlete and the Associate editor at Athletics Africa.
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