Mary Keitany won a fourth women’s title in five years at the New York City Marathon on Sunday (November 4), while two-time Boston Marathon champion Lelisa Desisa claimed his first men’s crown in the Big Apple.

Vivian Cheruiyot had de-throned Mary Keitany at the Virgin London Marathon in April setting up a greatly anticipated rematch on US soil. The pair contested today’s race alongside the defending champion Shalane Flanagan.

When Flanagan took victory twelve months ago it certainly made world news and provided a highlight to a glittering career for the American which also includes an Olympic Silver medal over 10,000m from Beijing in 2008.

The halfway mark in the women’s race was passed in a modest time of 1:15:49 led by IAAF World Half Marathon Champion Netsanet Gudeta in a group including defending champion Flanagan, Molly Huddle of the USA and race favourites Keitany and Cheruiyot.

Keitany was the first to pass all the check points from the 25km mark and after going through 22 miles in 2:00:34, had an advantage of two minutes.

The Kenyan slowed slightly in the final stages but her victory was never in doubt after her lead and crossed the Central Park finish line in 2:22:48 to claim victory by over three minutes. It was also the fastest of her four victories in New York by over 90 seconds.

“I was able to run a very nice race,” said Keitany, who ran a truly impressive negative split of  66:58 in the final 13.1 miles compared to 75:50 in the first half. “I was just thinking of to trying to win, but not actually the course record. But I came to see that I missed just by 70 seconds. But for me, winning was the most important.”

Cheruiyot was next home in 2:26:02 with New York favourite Flanagan finishing in third and as the top American with 2:26:22 just 22 seconds ahead of Huddle.

Photo: NYRR

In the men’s race, Multiple World Cross Country and World Half Marathon Champion Geoffrey Kamworor had looked to emulate his victory from twelve months ago, regardless that the field contained several men who had run minutes faster for the marathon distance.

Despite Kenyan dominance at the marathon in recent years, the fields for New York contained a trio of Ethiopian athletes who had serious intentions. They included Tamirat Tola who’s lifetime best of 2:04:06 made him the fastest in the field.

His counytryman Shura Kitata boasts a mark of 2:04:49 set on his way to third at the Virgin London Marathon in April. However, it was former Boston Marathon champion Desisa, with a best of 2:04:45, who would steal the show in New York.

At the halfway point five athletes shared the lead, passing in 1:03:55. The group contained Kamworor and fellow Kenyan Festus Talam, along with Ethiopian’s Tola, Desisa and Kitata.

Daniel Wanjiru had already fallen adrift of the leaders despite his resume including a Virgin London Marathon title from 2017 and a lifetime best of 2:05:21.

With just over a mile to run it was Kamworor and Desisa that led but as the pair entered the closing stages, Kitata fought back to move to take up the front running.

It was Desisa however that took a maiden victory in 2:05:59, less than a minute shy of the course record sitting at 2:05:06 set by Geoffrey Mutai in 2011.

In fact, it was a third Abbott Marathon Majors title for Desisa who won at Boston in 2013 and 2015. It was however with victory in Dubai in 2013 that the 28 year old Ethiopian set his PB.

Kitata was rewarded for his fast finish with the runner-up spot in 2:06.01 with the five-time world champion Kamworor finishing third.

Photo: NYRR

Bernard Lagat chose this race to contest his first marathon, joking before the race that it is 26 x his preferred race distance. The 43 year old multiple world champion finished in 2:17:20.

Chris Thompson led several British athletes keen to experience the atmosphere at 48th edition of the famous race that takes athletes through the five Boroughs of New York and that is a part of the World Marathon Majors Series.

The race has seen a British winner on six occasions including Steve Jones in 1988 with 2:08:20 and with Paula Radcliffe victorious on three occasions.

Thompson spoke prior to the race reflecting that New York is not a place for fast times but that had been on his bucket list because it is a great place for honest racing.

It was, however, Liverpool Harrier Jonny Mellor that finished as the first Briton in the Big Apple with a time of 2:16:09 – an encouraging performance after struggling at the London Marathon earlier this year.

Welshman and Commonwealth Games representative Andrew Davies was the next British athlete across the line, recording a time of 2:20:23.

Despite being on track at 10km in a time of 31:04, Thompson struggled to a 2:28:54 finish behind Morpeth’s debutant Nick McCormack in 2:27:35 and Kent AC duo Pete Lighting (2:28:41) and Sean Fitzpatrick (2:28:43).

Daniel Romanchuk of the USA prevailed in the men’s wheelchair race, ahead of Marcel Hug of Switzerland. Hug scored wins in the city in 2013, 2016 and in 2017 but was unable to match the young American who claimed Chicago Marathon victory last month.

David Weir claimed victory in New York back in 2010 but the Weirwolf of London had to settle for third this time.

Swiss Wheelchair racer Manuela Shar claimed a first victory in the women’s race with a time of 1:50.27 ahead of Tatyana McFadden of the USA and Lihong Zou of China.

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No matter what happens on Sunday morning (November 4), Shalane Flanagan knows it can’t possibly top last year.

At 37 years of age, the American athlete knows her chances of retaining the title at the New York City Marathon rank somewhere between improbable and impossible.

And yet, she’s back, resisting the allure of retirement for one last battle against the world’s best. But why? After summiting the Everest of distance-running last year, why not take your chips and run from the table, doing what so few other elite sportspeople have managed – go out on top?

Truth is, she thought long and hard about it.

“When I crossed the finish line I was unsure about my running future,” says Flanagan. “I’d accomplished a lifelong dream and I thought, ‘what can top this?’ But I wanted to give my hometown marathon, Boston, one more go.

“I felt physically and mentally that I’d still have what it took to compete at the highest level.”

Photo: NYRR

Those best laid plans went awry, however, as Flanagan shivered her way to the finish on a cold, wet and windy day in Boston last April where she finished sixth in 2:46:31.

“I wasn’t able to execute the race I’m capable of,” she reflects. “It’s like studying for a test and you think you’re taking a history exam but then you get a math exam. It wasn’t a good representation of my ability.”

No, she thought, that’s not how it should end.

New York or not

In the months after Flanagan faced a conundrum, a question of whether she truly had the desire to come back for one last hurrah in New York.

In May she sat down with one of the race organisers who told her they’d love to have her back, but she said she needed more time.

“I didn’t know if my heart and mind had had enough because I’d poured absolutely everything I had into Boston,” she says. “I had to ask myself if I was really willing to do the work it takes to compete at the highest level.

“I’ve had a really consistent career and I don’t want the final races of my career to be on a downward level.”

But after spending time in Europe over the summer, where she paced her teammate Shelby Houlihan to an American record over 5000m, the fire slowly came back.

The 37 year-old says affectionally: “I said, ‘you know what? Maybe I have this. Maybe I still have the passion and drive and enthusiasm.’

“I know it’s going to be so hard to top last year but there’s something to be said for coming and doing what I love. It doesn’t mean I have to break the finish line first for it to be a success.”

And so she finds herself here, back in the Big Apple, the title of defending champion preceding her name every time it’s announced.

“It sounds really nice to hear that because I’ve never had that in my entire career,” she says.

Her life has changed in many ways since last year’s race. Flanagan made countless appearances on national TV, felt the occasionally suffocating weight of media requests and even appeared in a Super Bowl advertisement in February, a benchmark of a sport star’s fame in US society.

“That was kind of epic,” she says with a laugh. “You work hard and put yourself in a position to have success and then doors open, but I’ve been very careful about what I say yes to.”

Eventually, the spotlight had to be shunned – after all the marathon requires an all-enveloping commitment, at least at the dizzying altitudes of human performance which Flanagan inhabits.

She started specific preparations in late August during a trip to the Big Apple to promote the New York Road Runners’ Run for the Future programme, and while there Flanagan was brought to tears by the news that her latest book, ‘Cook Fast, Eat Slow,’ had become a New York Times bestseller.

Twice a day she went to Central Park, envisioning the first Sunday in November as she ran over the park’s rolling hills, which comprise the final miles of the race.

After that, she went to altitude in Mammoth Lakes, California, training with Chris Derrick, a teammate at the Bowerman Track Club. Then Flanagan relocated to Park City, Utah, for the final month of training before New York.

Photo: Talbot Cox

So how does her form compare to last year?

“Fitness is a little hard to assess because I stayed at altitude for the full preparation unlike last year, but I did two key long runs that were really good at 4800 feet,” she explains. “Sometimes I think it’s good not to be comparing, but Jerry is super-happy and I think it’s a good thing.”

By that, she’s referring to Jerry Schumacher, the coach who has guided Flanagan’s career for the past 10 years, ever since he left his job at the University of Wisconsin to work in the professional ranks.

He has since turned athletes like Flanagan, Evan Jager, Amy Cragg, Shelby Houlihan and many more from very good athletes into great ones, as well as currently working with Gwen Jorgensen in her transition from Olympic triathlon gold medalist into a marathon athlete.

“I think of Jerry as my benevolent dictator,” says Flanagan with a laugh. “The most important aspect about him is that he cares. Every coaching decision he makes might not be agreeable to everyone but he’s always making decisions to put me in the best possible position to fulfil my goals.

“He’s a great leader, which comes from his background in being a collegiate coach, and every year he has progressed. As athletes we get better every year then eventually decline, but Jerry is continuously getting better as a coach so I feel really fortunate to work with him.”

At the Bowerman Track Club in Portland, Flanagan also has one of the strongest training groups in the world, with a cache of world-class women working together each day, something that has helped her stay in the sport as she reaches the autumn of her career.

“I really enjoy running with people – it’s a lot easier to run a 20-miler when you have a best friend and someone to talk to,” she says. “I’ve been afraid to retire because I’m going to miss that.”

Life beyond racing, but first New York

However, Flanagan has no plans to step away from the sport once she stops racing, with plans already in place to work in a mentorship and coaching role at the Bowerman Track Club.

In New York this weekend she will take on a field of intimidating quality, with three-time champion Mary Keitany, London Marathon champion Vivian Cheruiyot and Boston Marathon champion Desi Linden all in opposition.

But this is exactly what Flanagan wants.

RELATED: Desi Linden and Yuki Kawauchi battle conditions to win Boston Marathon

“I get excited by seeing exceptionally challenging fields,” she says. “It makes me excited to do the training. I’ve never beaten Vivian and I’ve run against her countless times, so the possibility of beating her excites me. She’s incredible.”

But when she reaches the finish line on Sunday, will that be it for one of the great careers in American distance running?

“I have no idea,” admits Flanagan. “Which is really rare for an athlete not to know, because we’re all so calculated and type-A in planning our futures.”

Photo: NYRR

One thing she does know: the pressure is off. Unlike in the past, Flanagan will run with little to prove – to herself or anyone else.

“It feels like I’m more at peace and have a sense of freedom,” she says. “There’s a sense of calm to this approach and not this sense of desperation that I had in the past.”

As the first American woman to win the New York Marathon for 40 years, Flanagan helped imbue her countrywomen with a new sense of belief ahead of this year’s race, something she can’t help notice.

“Success breeds success,” she says. “There’s this enthusiasm that I’ve never seen and this willingness to crush themselves. We have a swagger that we’re bringing to this race.”

If indeed this is her final race, there would be no more appropriate setting to bow out than New York, the concrete jungle where last year, her dreams were made.

Flanagan will toe the line as defending champion, though still a huge underdog – and that’s just fine with her.

New York City Marathon Preview: Shalane Flanagan and Geoffrey Kamworor aim to retain New York crowns

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The post Shalane Flanagan will run with freedom in New York appeared first on Fast Running.

Shalane Flanagan and Geoffrey Kamworor can expect a tough test as they aim to successfully defend their titles at the New York City Marathon on Sunday (November 4).

Last year in New York, Flanagan became the first American woman to win in 40 years, storming to victory in a time of 2:26:53.

On Sunday, the 37 year-old will once again face three-time champion Mary Keitany who she dethroned from the top podium spot, along with London Marathon champion Vivian Cheruiyot and Boston Marathon champion Des Linden.

Flanagan has a personal best of 2:21:14, while Kenya’s Keitany clocked a women’s only world record of 2:17:01 to win the 2017 edition of the London Marathon.

RELATED: Shalane Flanagan and Geoffrey Kamworor win New York City Marathon

Leading the Ethiopian challenge is reigning World Half Marathon champion Netsanet Gudeta and Mamitu Daska, who have bests of 2:29:15 and 2:21:59 respectively.

Along with Flanagan and Linden, the top American entries include 2016 New York third-place finisher Molly Huddle, Boston Marathon runner-up Sarah Sellers and 2017 TCS New York fifth-place finisher Allie Kieffer.

Last year in the men’s race, Kenya’s Kamworor claimed his first major marathon victory running a 4:31 penultimate mile to cross the line in 2:10:53.

Photo: NYRR

This weekend, the three-time World Half Marathon champion lines up against USA’s Bernard Lagat, who makes his exciting marathon debut, two time Boston Marathon champion Lelisa Desisa of Ethiopia, 2017 London Marathon champion Daniel Wanjiru and the fastest in the field with a 2:04:06 best Ethiopia’s Tamirat Tola.

Multiple track world medalist Lagat became an American citizen in 2004 and holds national records over 1500m, 3000m and 5000m.

The 43 year-old will be joined on the start line by fellow American athletes Abdi Abdirahman, Rio 2016 Olympian Jared Ward, 2018 Boston Marathon third-place finisher Shadrack Biwott.

British eyes will be firmly fixed on the performances of Chris Thompson, Jonny Mellor and Andrew Davies on Sunday. Thompson makes his return to marathon racing after recent wins at the Great Scottish Run and Great South Run, following the European Championships in Berlin.

The 37 year-old, who has a PB of 2:11:19 from 2014, is no stranger to New York and claimed a podium spot at the United Airlines NYC Half in March.

In a recent interview with Fast Running, Thompson said: “New York is not a race for fast times, but instead it’s one of the best for real racing – no pacesetters, no world records, just hard running.

“It’s been on my bucket list for ages. It’s at the right time of year for me at this point in my career, and I’m excited about all the unknowns going into the race.”

Mellor memorably clocked a 2:12:57 best at the Berlin Marathon last September and will take on his second marathon of the year after a 2:17:55 performance at a hot London Marathon in April.

Welshman Davies finished 11th in the marathon at the Commonwealth Games and steps back on the roads following a successful summer on the mountains, which included winning gold at the World Masters Mountain Running Championships.

In the wheelchair races, Switzerland’s Marcel Hug and Manuela Schär return to defend their 2018 crowns, while David Weir, Johnboy Smith, Simon Lawson lead the British hopes in New York.

How to watch

The New York City Marathon will be broadcast live on Eurosport 2 in the UK from 2:15pm on Sunday.

RELATED: Chris Thompson ready for a marathon size bite out of the Big Apple

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American Shalane Flanagan and Geoffrey Kamworor of Kenya will aim to successfully retain their titles at the New York City Marathon on Sunday, November 4.

At last year’s race, Flanagan became the first American woman to win the women’s race in New York since Miki Gorman did so in 1977, while Kamworor claimed his first major marathon victory in the men’s race.

Manuela Schär and Marcel Hug of Switzerland will also return to defend their titles. Last year, Hug and Schär both won their fourth major marathon victories of the year with a Swiss sweep of the wheelchair division.

“When I think about returning to race in New York City, I’m flooded with magical memories,” said Flanagan, who ended a 40-year drought for American women after claiming the crown from Kenya’s Mary Keitany with a time of 2:26:53.

“My heart skips a beat, I get butterflies in my stomach, and my palms get sweaty. New York City is incredibly special to me. It’s where I ran my first marathon in 2010, placing second, and of course, my dream moment in 2017 when I won the TCS New York City Marathon.

“I’m thrilled to have the opportunity, support, passion, and health to defend my title in 2018. I hope everyone preparing enjoys their journey to the start line and I look forward to celebrating with all the runners at the finish line on November 4th.”

With her first victory in just her second appearance at the New York City Marathon – she was runner-up in her marathon debut in 2010 – Flanagan became the sixth U.S. women’s champion in the event and recorded the second-fastest time by a U.S. woman at the event.

The 16-time national champion and Olympic silver medalist will be racing again this year as an NYRR Team for Kids Ambassador. In the women’s open division, Flanagan will join previously announced Des Linden, the 2018 Boston Marathon champion, and Allie Kieffer, the fifth-place finisher at last year’s New York City Marathon.

RELATED: Des Linden to run New York City Marathon

Kamworor claimed his first major marathon victory last year when he held off compatriot Wilson Kipsang down the final turns in Central Park.

The 2015 TCS New York City Marathon runner-up separated himself from the field with a 4:31 penultimate mile to finish in 2:10:53.

“Racing once more in the TCS New York City Marathon means so much to me,” said the 25 year-old. “It is my favourite race, and although thousands of miles separate my training base in Kaptagat, Kenya to New York, the event feels like home.

“I say that because of the friendly nature of the event, the terrific organization and also because of the warmth I feel from the many thousands of supporters lining the route.”

The Kenyan has won the last three consecutive IAAF World Half-Marathon Championships and placed 11th in the 10,000 meters at the Rio 2016 Olympics. He recorded three consecutive sub-2:07 performances at the BMW Berlin Marathon from 2012-2014, with his 2012 race of 2:06:12 remaining his personal best.

Peter Ciaccia, president of events for NYRR and race director of the TCS New York City Marathon said: “Last year was one for the ages, with Shalane making history, Geoffrey having a breakthrough race, and Manuela and Marcel becoming the first winning pair from the same country to sweep the wheelchair division.

“We are excited to have all four of our TCS New York City Marathon champions – Shalane, Geoffrey, Manuela, and Marcel – returning to defend their titles at the world’s largest marathon.

“Together, this group of all-time greats will headline our professional athlete races and lead the 50,000-plus runners behind them as they thrill the more than 1 million spectators that line the course. We can fully expect another electrifying race this year.”

RELATED: Shalane Flanagan and Geoffrey Kamworor win New York City Marathon

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The former 10,000m world champion, who is now based in Doha, tells Fast Running it’s “ hard to get excited by certain records until such a time comes that all countries put in place the same anti-doping procedures.”

In recent years, few world records or world bests have been broken as frequently as the women’s half marathon. In fact, six of the top eight fastest half marathon times were ran this year alone.

The two fastest half marathons have been set by Kenyan athlete Joyciline Jepkosgei. First a new world record of 64:52 at the Prague Half Marathon in April, before further improving it in October by one second (pending ratification).

While fast times and records are what every fan wants to see, the two time Commonwealth Games gold medalist says for the for the integrity of the sport all athletes need to “tested under the same criteria”.

“The most recent world half marathon record was broken by someone who has never been tested out of competition. I just don’t agree with that, says McColgan, the winner of the inaugural World Half Marathon Championships. “Athletes need to be tested under the same criteria, and I honestly don’t believe that any record should be ratified if the athlete’s country isn’t as consistent with out of competition testing as other countries.

“For me, it’s a bit sad when there are really quick times and world records are being broken, but you have no clear understanding of the athlete’s background.

“Athletes I work with are tested all the time, in competition and out of competition, and I think it’s not right that certain countries are so proactive in their own testing but others aren’t.

“At the moment it’s a sad state of affairs for athletics and records but hopefully over the next few years some form of global standard of testing can be implemented – possibly a group that can freely go into another country as and when they want, with unrestricted access to test any athlete – some form of procedures that all countries follow.”

Rewriting records

Earlier this year European Athletics did propose rewriting, and essentially forgetting world records set before 2005 in an effort to restore credibility following doping scandals.

“That’s a hard one, where do you draw the line and forget a record?” asks McColgan. “It’s very difficult, what guarantee do we have that anyone is going to be clean from now on? I don’t think to do away with previous records is okay because there is no guarantee in place for the next ten years.”

Earlier this month, Olympic marathon champion Jemima Sumgong was handed a four-year-ban by the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya. The 2016 London marathon winner tested positive for the banned substance EPO from a sample taken on February 28. The athlete in question previously failed an anti-doping test in 2012, however, she was later cleared of it.

“I agree with a life ban for athletes. I think it is the only way,” she adds. “Agents should be banned from working and federations should be fined too. If you don’t send a strong message out there, it will just keep happening – otherwise, some agents will just go to the next athlete and the next – and it just continues.

“Until there are very strict rules in place, people will always consider taking a gamble to get a gold medal.

“It’s not an easy solution, but you get people who have been banned, come back and are winning and could get banned again. It’s just not fair to the athletes that are clean and are working hard every week and year.”

The future of athletics

McColgan, a New York City Marathon winner in 1991, was impressed by Shalane Flanagan’s recent victory in the big apple. She thinks competitive races like this are what will draw fans back to the athletics – helping to repair the sport’s brand.

“It was a tremendous race for her, she executed the race perfectly. While it wasn’t a particularly fast time, it was a closely fought race throughout. It was true racing, without pacemakers, and she beat a lot of quick girls. Hat’s off to her, I am sure she has now inspired a lot of marathon runners in America,” she says.

“It shows when you are in a race situation that anything can happen if you get out there and put yourself amongst it. It was brilliant to see.”

On the global scale, athletics has experimented to “be more exciting” to a mass audience, but McColgan says this is unnecessary.

“At the end of the day, everyone just wants to see a well-raced race – a competitive race. If we can get more races like we saw in New York, with less pacemaking, and just true running that’s what will bring the support, whether it is on the roads, track or cross country. There is a huge audience who enjoy running and if we can see some really good competitive races then this will appeal to everyone,” McColgan explains.

Some of the ‘innovative’ concepts by athletics organisations to try and increase the fan base of athletics, includes the Nitro Athletics that took place earlier this year in Australia, and next year’s ‘The Meet’ will see Britain go-head-to-head with the USA in a new athletics format.

“I went to a race last year and it was just blaring out music – it was actually irritating for both the spectators and those competing. I think athletics is exciting if the race itself is exciting, that’s all we need,” she says reflecting on her own experience at an ‘innovative’ athletics event. “If we can get some proper racing going again, more media and tv coverage will come.”

British Athletics

One thing that British Athletics has outlined it will implement this year, is the mandatory requirement of athletes ‘to attend’ the British national championships in order to be considered for selection for upcoming major championships. The governing body hopes this “guarantees to showcase all the best athletes in the UK.”

McColgan agrees with this, saying: “If you want to get crowds to an event, like the British trials, you need to have all the best athletes there. Before a major championships all the athletes who want to get on that team need to be there competing.

“If you had all the big names there you would definitely get the tv coverage and spectators on the seats. It’s about how the governing bodies can get the best athletes to show up and race. That’s more what we need to work on, so we can get good races with the best of Britain there.”

“If Mo [Farah] is running for example, you will just have loads and loads of people wanting to go and watch. So it’s about getting people of that level to come and compete in the British races to encourage the fans back.”

On such example of a big name athlete positively growing the audience of a British race, was Laura Muir at the Scottish Short Course Cross Country Championships earlier this month. Without the attendance of Muir, the championships most likely would have gone relatively unnoticed outside of Scotland.

However, with Muir competing, the cross country event gained not only British wide media coverage but also global recognition – this in some way highlights that all that the sport really needs, is more and more of this…

The post Liz McColgan says it’s difficult to “get excited” by certain world records appeared first on Fast Running.

Flanagan, racing in her second New York City Marathon, broke the tape in 2:26:53 leaving defending champion Mary Keitany more than one minute behind.

The 2008 Olympic medalist ends a four-decade drought by becoming the first American winner since Miki Gorman in 1977.

“I’ve dreamed of a moment like this since I was a little girl,” Flanagan said after running thesecond-fastest time by a U.S. woman in New York. “So this means a lot to me, to my family and hopefully inspires the next generation of American women to just be patient. These are the moments that we dream of as athletes, and this is going to feel good for a really long time.”

Flanagan, who made her marathon debut seven years ago in New York, is the second American marathon major champion in four weeks following Galen Rupp’s victory in Chicago.

Keitany, who was seeking a fourth consecutive win the Big Apple, was inseparable from Flanagan and Ethiopia’s Mamitu Daska up until the 22-mile mark before Flanagan kicked. From that point on the gap grew with every mile and neither athlete could answer the 36-year-old’s strength in closing stages.

Flanagan crossed the line in 2:26:53, with Keitany second in 2:27:54 and Daska completed the podium with 2:28:08.

Earlier this year Flanagan, who finished third at the Beijing 2008 Olympic 10,000m, had her bronze medal upgraded to a silver after Elvan Abeylegesse of Turkey’s medal was stripped as a result of a doping violation.

Geoffrey Kamworor wins his first marathon

Geoffrey Kamworor’s late surge in a tactical men’s race was enough to win his first marathon majors title.

The two-time World Cross Country Champion and two-time World Half Marathon Champion crossed the line in 2:10:53, finishing three seconds ahead of 2014 champion Wilson Kipsang.

Lelisa Desisa completed the podium with 2:11:32.

The men’s race was a tight tactical affair right to the closing stages with any of eight athletes in contention for the title.

However, Kamworor made a break with two miles to go and only Ethiopia’s Desisa and Kipsang managed to follow. Heading into Central Park for the final stretch, Kipsang was just a few strides behind, but the 24-year-old remained in control and held on to win his first marathon in eight attempts.

“2015 was my first time running the TCS New York City Marathon, and I found the course very exciting and very nice,” Kamworor said. “There are many people to cheer on, so it keeps a lot of motivation. So for me today, I knew that it’s really a nice course, and I knew that there’s enough support.

“For me, I knew that I had made a decisive move, and I was focusing on the finish line. But when I look at the camera, I saw someone was coming, which was Wilson, and I had to believe in myself because I was holding out for the finish. So I had to do my best to make sure that I won.”

Meb Keflezighi says farewell

American great Meb Keflezighi was racing in his 26th and final career marathon and finished in a very respectable 2:15:29 for 11th place. Keflezighi, a winner in 2009 has now competed in New York eleven times and quite fitting he finishes 11th today.

“It was a beautiful victory lap, you could say, to be up at the front and mix it up with all the great runners that New York runners provide here and set the stage for us,” Kelfezighi said. “I gave it all that I had today. New York came out to support me, all the runners, 50,000 deep. I was honored to be here and to get this special medal, number 26.”

Switzerland’ Marcel Hug won his third title in the men’s wheelchair race, clocking 1:37:17, with Britain’s John Charles Smith finishing second in 1:39:40.

Manuela Schär made it a double for Switzerland by claiming the women’s title ahead of USA’s five-time winner Tatyana McFadden.

The post Shalane Flanagan and Geoffrey Kamworor win New York City Marathon appeared first on Fast Running.

Ghebreslassie, the 21-year-old from Eritrea, became the youngest men’s winner in the history of the New York City Marathon, breaking the tape in 2:07:51 last year. He posted the third-fastest winning time in history and was the first Eritrean winner.

In 2015, he became the youngest winner in World Championships marathon history, and his gold medal was Eritrea’s first ever at the event. He was also fourth in the marathon at Rio 2016 Olympics. At the London Marathon last year he set his personal-best of 2:07:46 for a fourth place finish.

“I’m proud to return to New York to defend my title,” Ghebreslassie said. “The crowds along the course are fresh in my memory, and I will work hard to do well again this year.”

New York Marathon History
The first New York City Marathon, was organised in 1970 by Fred Lebow and Vince Chiappetta, and was ran entirely in Central Park. Of 127 entrants, only 55 men finished; the sole female entrant dropped out due to illness. The entry fee was $1 and the total event budget was $1,000.

Kenyan Keitany, has won the race for the last three years, including a dominating performance last year in which she surged ahead fourteen miles in to finish the course on a solo run in 2:24:26.

Her 3:34 margin of victory was the greatest in the women’s race since 1980, and she became the first able-bodied runner since Grete Waitz to win the event three years in a row.

This year, she won her third career London Marathon in April, breaking the women’s only marathon record in a blistering time of 2:17:01.

They will join the previously announced American field that includes Shalane Flanagan and  Meb Keflezighi, who races his 26th and final career marathon.

Flanagan, who recently received her 2008 Olympic medal upgrade, is the second-fastest U.S. female marathoner of all-time and a four-time Olympian. In 2010, she finished as the runner-up at the New York City Marathon, the best finish by an American woman in 27 years.

“Seven years ago, I started my marathon career on the streets of New York City,” Flanagan said. “It was one of the most thrilling experiences in my career, so I’m beyond excited to be returning this fall to where it all began. New York has always had an abundance of top competition. and I look forward to testing myself against the best in the world once again.”

Keflezighi, a four-time Olympian who will be racing the New York City Marathon for the 11th time, his 26th and final professional career marathon. In 2009, Keflezighi became the first American in 27 years to win the New York City Marathon, and five years later he was victorious at the Boston Marathon.

New York Marathon History
In 2004, world record-holder Paula Radcliffe won the women’s race by three seconds over Kenya’s Susan Chepkemei in the closest women’s finish in race history.

Back to the men’s international field, it also includes Lemi Berhanu, the 22-year-old from Ethiopia won the Boston Marathon in 2016 and has a personal best of 2:04:33. He has the fastest personal best in the field.

Lelisa Desisa, also from Ethiopia, finished second in New York in 2014 and third in 2015 before failing to finish last year. The two-time Boston Marathon champion owns a personal best of 2:04:45 from the 2013 Dubai Marathon.

Geoffrey Kamworor of Kenya also returns. The 24-year-old was the runner-up in 2015 and is a four-time world champion, twice in cross-country and twice in the half-marathon. His personal-best time of 2:06:12 came from his marathon debut in 2012 when he finished third at the Berlin Marathon.

The women’s field will include Kenyan duo Edna Kiplagat and Betsy Saina. The 37-year old Kiplagat owns titles from the 2010 New York City Marathon, 2014 London Marathon and 2017 Boston Marathon. She is a three-time World Championship medallist, most recently taking silver at the World Championships in London.

Saina, 29, finished fifth over 10,000m in Rio Olympics in 2016 and will be making her marathon debut.

Joining them in the field is Ethiopian Tigist Tufa, 30, who finished third and eighth in her two previous New York City Marathon appearances. She won the London Marathon in 2015 and was the runner-up in 2016.

The post Defending champions Ghebreslassie and Keitany set for New York Marathon appeared first on Fast Running.

The four time Olympian received her silver medal at her home in Portland, Oregon on Monday (August 21).

Flanagan was the bronze medalist in the 2008 Olympic 10,000m until second-place finisher Abeylegesse was disqualified in March 2017 after testing positive for a banned substance in a retest of a sample she gave at the 2007 IAAF World Championships.

“Receiving my proper medal and having the record books changed is a dream come true,” Flanagan said. “I greatly appreciate the USOC’s efforts to host a more formal medal ceremony in my honour, but with my coach and my family, I have decided to forego that option and instead celebrate in private. This news, and receiving my medal, are all that I need to feel incredibly fulfilled and happy. I’m honoured and proud to officially be the 2008 10,000-meter silver medalist.”

Kisses are necessary too!! #cleansport #2008 #medalupgrade #silver pic.twitter.com/2mQYzt4mFe

— Shalane Flanagan (@ShalaneFlanagan) August 21, 2017

Flanagan is now the top-placing American woman in history in the Olympic 10,000, followed by Lynn Jennings, who won bronze in 1992.

“The U.S. Olympic Committee would like to extend its congratulations to Shalane for her outstanding performance in Beijing,” said USOC CEO Scott Blackmun. “As one of our country’s most decorated distance runners, we commend her for her success on the field of play, as well as her conduct off the field of play. She epitomizes the Olympic values with her integrity, sportsmanship and unwavering dedication to competitive excellence. On behalf of athletes like Shalane, the USOC is committed to working tirelessly with the global Olympic Movement to help reform international anti-doping efforts.”

Flanagan most recently placing sixth in the marathon at the Olympic Games Rio 2016 and won a bronze medal at the 2011 IAAF World Cross Country Championships. She has set American records at three different distances on the track and currently holds the American record indoors for 3,000 and 5,000 meters.

“Shalane has set the highest standard for American athletes for more than a decade,” USATF CEO Max Siegel said. “Her fierce competitiveness and athletic accomplishments are matched by her integrity, professionalism and her care for our sport as a whole. USATF congratulates Shalane on her richly deserved Olympic silver medal.”

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