New York, Nov 5 (Xinhua) Martin Lel of Kenya and Britain’s Paula Radcliffe won the men’s and the women’s titles respectively at the 38th New York City Marathon.
Lel made his kick in the final kilometre Sunday to edge Abderrahim Goumri of Morocco in two hours nine minutes and four seconds. Hendrick Ramaala of South Africa finished third in 2:11:25. Olympic champion Stefano Baldini of Italy was fourth.
World-record holder Radcliffe outlasted Gete Wami of Ethiopia to win the women’s crown in 2:23:09. It was her first marathon in two years, having taken time off to start her family. She returns to competitive running after the birth of her baby in January.
Radcliffe, 33, ran almost the entire race with Wami on her heels before pulling away over the last kilometre.
“I felt quite relaxed,” Radcliffe said. “I knew she was behind me, but she was alongside so it wasn’t so annoying.”
Two-time defending champion Jelena Prokopcuka was a distant third in 2:26:13.
In the wheelchair competition, Kurt Fearnley of Australia retained the men’s title while former champion Edith Hunkeler of Switzerland regained the women’s crown.
Over 39,000 runners from some 100 countries around the world participated in the 42.195km run through New York City’s five boroughs before crossing the finish line in Central Park.
Over $600,000 in prize money was up for grabs and nearly two million people turned up to cheer the runners.
The Marathon weekend had got off to a tragic start Saturday when US runner Ryan Shay died while taking part in the Olympic trials.
The 28-year-old collapsed a little more than eight km into the race near the Central Park boathouse. A moment of silence was observed for Shay before the start of the men’s race Sunday.