World-record-holder Paul Tergat of Kenya sprinted to victory ahead of defending champion Hendrick Ramaala of South Africa in the New York men’s marathon on Sunday.
The 36-year-old Tergat crossed the line in two hours, nine minutes and 30 seconds, just ahead of Ramaala,, with Meb Keflezighi of the United States third in 2:09,56.
It was the closest finish in the history of the New York Marathon.
The top two finishers raced virtually shoulder-to-shoulder and swapped the lead several times in the final 4,8km, and then turned on a breathtaking finish with just a couple of steps separating them after 41,9km.
”The last thing I was expecting was a sprint at the finish. In the last 200m, I had to give all I had. It was very hard,” Tergat said.
He described the closing 400m as ”really, really, painful” and added that Ramaala took the lead briefly in the final 20m, adding more excitement and tension at the line.
It was the first participation in New York for Tergat, who holds the world record of 2:04,55 since the 2003 Berlin marathon.
The 36-year-old Kenyan, acknowledged as one of the best long-distance runners of all time, won Olympic silver medals at 10 000m in 1996 and 2000, and world-championship silver at 10 000m in 1997 and 1999.
Latvia’s Elena Prokopcuka (29) won the women’s race in two hours, 24 minutes and 41 seconds.
Prokopcuka, fifth last year, came in ahead of Kenya’s Susan Chepkemei, who was also second last year (2:24,55), and Ethiopia’s Derartu Tulu (2:25,21).
Defending women’s champion Paula Radcliffe of Britain did not compete in this year’s race.
Prokopcuka (29) eased away from Chepkemei (30) to win her first major marathon in 2:24,41, with Ethiopian Derartu Tulu third. It was the third time Chepkemei had finished second in the New York Marathon in four years.
The three controlled the race, which attracted a total of 37 516 runners, in the final 8km.
Tergat’s victory marked the eighth time a Kenyan has won the New York Marathon. The Kenyans again dominated race with four in the top 10.
”The weather was hot and I was trying to keep cool,” said Tergat, adding that he realised at the 40km mark he was in for a tough finish. ”I pushed conservatively because it was very important for me to win this race.”
He said he made a move at 28km, but he kept something in reserve because ”I knew a lot of work had to be done”.
In a finish that had thousands roaring as the runners made a final surge to the line, Tergat, who was one of 17 children in a family growing up on the drought-ridden shores of Lake Baringo in Kenya’s Rift Valley, found that little bit extra, edging out Ramaala.
Tergat took the lead around the 40km mark and seemed to have the race to himself, but Ramaala made one final desperate effort.
”Hendrick, Meb and me tried to break him down, but no one could,” Ramaala said. ”It is hard to go the last 100m with Paul.
”Paul didn’t want to lose. I didn’t want to lose, and I wasn’t going to give up. I was beaten by a champion. He is one of the greatest runners ever. He has more speed and endurance than any of us.”
Prokopcuka said she felt pain in her liver area about 9km from the finish, but it wasn’t enough to stop her.
”The NYC [New York City] Marathon is a very important one. My long time dream has come true,” she said.
Prokopcuka, whose husband, Aleksander, holds the Latvian marathon record, sensed victory when she saw Chepkemei throwing up as they ran along Fifth Avenue.
”I got confident and I knew I could win when I saw her vomiting,” she said. — Sapa-AFP