Gebre Gebremariam of Ethiopia crosses the finish line to win the men’s division. (AFP/Getty Images)
In his first-ever full marathon, Ethiopian Gebre Gebremariam won the New York City Marathon in a time of 2:08.14. He used his track speed to seize control in Central Park and become the first marathon debutant to win the event since Rod Dixon in 1983, and only the third ever.
The World Cross Country champion easily defeated Emmanuel Mautai (2:09.18). Defending champion Meb Keflezighi ran sixth in 2:11.38, and fellow American Dathan Ritzenhein was eighth in 2:12.33.
“New York is New York. It is so special for me, even though I just finished only, I’m so, so happy to be here to win it,” said Gebremariam. “Nobody expected me to win, but even for me, for myself I cannot digest it to say to myself (that I won). But New York is special. The finish is good for me. I come from 10k, 5k, cross country, I win all of those…I come back here 100% to win next year.”
World record holder Haile Gebrselassie — who had an MRI exam on his right knee yesterday and also had it drained — dropped out in Mile 16, with 2004 New York champion Hedrick Ramaala dropping out two miles later.
Kenyan Edna Kiplagat won the women’s race in 2:28.20, breaking a three-woman pack in Central Park. American Shalane Flanagan — running in red, white and blue with ABA-style knee-high socks — finished a stunning second place in her first-ever marathon, finishing in 2:28.40.
Kiplagat had never run the New York Marathon, but she’d taken her first three races this season and all in personal records, and that form continued. Mary Keitany of Kenya faded badly in the park, passed by Flanagan and finishing in 2:29.01.
“I had to wait until the last to fell (them) out. I reacted and I was happy. I tried to pull away when it was a little flat. That’s when I found I met my strides. I was happy to pull away from them,” said Kiplagat. “It means a lot because the training that I did for the last three months (paid off). I was feeling great during all my workouts. I did a lot if hill work, a lot of endurance. What I can say is I didn’t feel any pain, didn’t have any injury. It went well.”
Flanagan — a 29-year-old from Portland — was making the most highly-anticipated debut of any American woman since Deena Kastor back in 2001, and she didn’t disappoint.
The U.S. record-holder at 3,000 and 5,000-meters on the track, and the reigning national half-marathon champion this year, Flanagan switched both coaches and running form, adopting a more shuffling style. The results paid off.
Flanagan became the first American female to finish second in New York since Kim Jones twenty years ago. She dropped to her hands and knees at the finish, with an American flag draped over her.
Flanagan was awarded her silver medal by her mother Charyl Treworgy, a world-class runner in the 1960s and ’70s.