Here’s a rundown of the best moments of this year’s New York City Marathon, from the top runners to the incredible stories.
Shalane Wins NYC
Shalane Flanagan, 36, won the New York City Marathon on Sunday in 2:26:53, becoming the first American woman to do so since 1977.
It is Flanagan's first victory at a World Marathon Major, a goal she’s stated she deeply wanted to achieve before retiring from professional running. Overcome with emotion as she crossed the finish line, she pumped her arm in the air and had joyful tears coming down her cheeks.
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“Sometimes we don’t realize the moment when we feel like dreams are taken away that actually there’s some delayed gratification down the road,” Flanagan said after the race. “I think it was a blessing that I got injured this past winter, and I came here full of energy and motivation and desire to put on the best performance of my life.”
Flanagan debuted at 26.2 miles at the 2010 New York City Marathon, where she placed second. Prior to Sunday, she called it one of the best performances of her career.
Kamworor Takes First Marathon Victory
Geoffrey Kamworor, 24, of Kenya took the New York City Marathon title today, running the final miles in a blistering pace to separate himself from three pursuers who were with him through 24 miles. He broke the tape in 2:10:53.
It was the first marathon victory for Kamworor, who trains with the greatest marathoner of all time, Eliud Kipchoge, in Kenya. Kipchoge predicted Kamworor’s victory before the race and was on hand to celebrate with his training partner at the finish line.
“I feel great to come back from 2015, when I was second,” Kamworor said after the race. “I’m elated to have won a marathon. It was a fantastic moment. This was my sixth marathon, and my first victory.”
The 2014 winner, Wilson Kipsang, 35, tried to catch Kamworor along Central Park South, but ran out of real estate, and finished second just 3 seconds back in 2:10:56.
Lelisa Desisa, 27, from Ethiopia, a two-time Boston Marathon champion, was third in 2:11:32. He was also a runner-up in New York in 2014 and was third in 2015.
Meb Closes Out a Brilliant Career
Never doubt that Meb Keflezighi will fight to the finish line. Placing 11th overall in 2:15:29, Keflezighi hung with the lead pack through the first 19 miles, then slowed because of stomach trouble and, well, being 42 years old. Today’s marathon was the final race of Keflezighi’s 20-year professional career. He covered the final stretch acknowledging the roaring crowd before collapsing in exhaustion and pent-up emotion at the finish.
Keitany Kept from Winning No. 4
It’s tough at the top. Mary Keitany, 35, came to win her fourth straight New York City Marathon today after setting the world record for a women-only marathon, 2:17:01, at London in April. Two sub-1:06 marathons this year added to her role as prohibitive favorite. Keitany ran smart, perfectly placed at 20 miles. Only one thing was not in the plan—the intently focused, deeply motivated, fiercely inspired Shalane Flanagan.
It’s proof of the quality of Flanagan’s performance that Keitany has indubitably crafted a place as one of the world’s true greats. She has won the London and New York City Marathons three times each. She has twice won the world half marathon championship, and collected world records at that distance, at 25K, and the marathon.
As Flanagan moved away today, Keitany may have thought of previous journeys through the five boroughs that did not go to plan. There was her frantic debut in 2010, when she was the brilliant new half marathon talent who was humbled by her first 26.2, and struggled to third (with Flanagan in second). There was 2011, when she rashly blazed the early miles at under world record pace, only to pay disastrously and lose a lead of more than two minutes.
In 2014, after a year away for the birth of her second child, Keitany at last won New York, but only after a brutal finishing sprint against Jemima Sumgong. By 2015, Keitany had the five boroughs figured out, starting watchfully and winning big after a break in the Bronx. That’s how she wanted it to go today, but then there was Shalane Flanagan.
Mamitu Daska, 34 of Ethiopia, was third in 2:28:08.
-- Roger Robinson
U.S. Women Place Four in the Top 10
Flanagan’s win wasn’t the only U.S. women’s highlight. Three other women cracked the top 10, led by the previously unheralded Allie Kieffer. She took 26 minutes (!) off her personal best to place fifth in 2:29:39. Arizona-based training partners Kellyn Taylor and Stephanie Bruce ran tough, patient second halves to place eighth and tenth, respectively, in 2:29:56 and 2:31:44.
Kevin Hart Does His First 26.2
In a field of 50,000 runners and other celebrities, Kevin Hart finished his first marathon in 4:05:06.
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Abdi is Top American Man, Top Masters Finisher
American Abdi Abdirahman set an unofficial record of sorts in today’s New York City Marathon by winning prize money in three divisions. The four-time U.S. Olympian was seventh in the open race ($7,500), first in the American division ($25,000), and first in the masters division ($3,000).
His time, 2:12:48, established a masters division record at New York, eclipsing the previous mark, 2:13:32, set two years ago by Meb Keflezighi. For much of the race, Abdirahman was on pace to break Keflezighi’s American masters record, 2:12:20, set in the broiling hot U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials of February 2016. But he couldn’t maintain that effort to the end.
RELATED: At Age 40, Abdi Is Top American at New York City Marathon for 2nd Straight Year
-- Amby Burfoot
NYRR Chief Keeps Streak Alive in Best Possible Way
In his 26th consecutive New York City Marathon, New York Road Runners’s 54-year-old president and CEO, Michael Capiraso, established a new PR, running 3:49:41.
To run the marathon each year, Capiraso needs an exemption from one of NYRR’s most stringent rules: Employees can’t enter the event. It’s a day for all hands on deck, not feet on the blue line. When he joined NYRR six years ago, Capiraso was granted a “bye” based on his existing 20-year streak.
-- Amby Burfoot
Beverly Ramos, of Puerto Rico, had an impressive showing despite many setbacks on her road to the New York City Marathon. Ramos, 30 and a two-time Olympian, decided to train in her country despite the devastation brought on by Hurricane Maria. According to ABC News, “She dealt with sickness, lack of sleep and limited food options," while training.
Despite that, she finished in 24th place with a time of 2:46:45.
