Keitany Storms To Record Fourth New York Marathon Title

NEW YORK, United States- Kenya’s Mary Jepkosgei Keitany entered history books when she stormed to her fourth New York Marathon title on Sunday, incidentally on November 4.

In the corresponding men’s race, Ethiopia’s Lelisa Desisa led compatriot Shura Kitata to the 1-2 in 2:05:59 with Kenya’s crown holder, Geoffrey Kipsang Kamworor (2:06:26) coming home for the bronze.

Keitany took off from the rest of the challengers with an imposing second half that saw her motor to the finish in 2:22:48, the second fastest time ever recorded in the women’s race at the Big Apple World Marathon Majors race.

The 36 year-old who surrendered her crown to American Shalane Flanagan last year led London champion and countrywoman, Vivian Cheruiyot (2:26:02) to the Kenyan 1-2 as the deposed titleholder rounded off the podium in 2:26:22.

Kenya's Keitany wins fourth New York Marathon women's title

Only Norway's Grete Waitz, a nine-time champion from 1978 to 1988, has won more New York women's titles than Keitany, who is also a three-time London Marathon winner.

Keitany stayed with the leaders from the start, taking on the challenging pace of Ethiopians Netsunet Gudeta and Rahma Tusa in a breakaway midway into the 26.2-mile race over the streets of New York.

World half-marathon champion Gudeta cracked in the 16th mile and Tusa faded in the 18th, leaving Keitany to run alone to the finish line over the closing miles.

Trending topic

Following her latest stirring victory, Keitany immediately shot to the top of trending topics on Twitter in Kenya as her compatriots poured online to shower her with praise.

“Congratulations Mary Keitany for dominating the New York Marathon for the 4th time in 5 years, Kudos too to Vivian Cheruiyot for coming in second #NewYorkMarathon. You made us proud,” Cabinet Secretary for Lands, Farida Karoney tweeted.

"Mary Keitany. Brilliant. Legend!” Senate Majority leader, Kipchumba Murkomen summed.

The records books will show Keitany’s winning time was only the second fastest New York City Marathon run by a woman, but in reality it was a run for the ages.

On a day with ideal conditions for running fast, after a pedestrian first half marathon of 1:15:50, Keitany blasted the second half marathon in 66:58, winning by a massive 3:13 in 2:22:48 – the second fastest time ever recorded in NY (Margaret Okayo’s course record from 2003 is 2:22:31). It was Keitany’s fourth crown.

Let us try to put that in perspective for you. The fastest half marathon ever run by a US woman is 66:57 (Kara Goucher) but that came on an aided course. The official US half marathon record is 67:25 (Molly Huddle).

Keitany’s splits were amazing. Mile 14 in 5:15, Mile 15 in 5:08, but she didn’t take the lead until a 5:09 for mile 16. A 4:55 downhill mile 17 still did not put her all alone as Netsanet and Rahma of Ethiopia were still with her. 

A 4:58 for mile 18 dropped Netsadet and when Keitany followed it up with a 4:55 for mile 20, she finally totally cracked Rahma who was 26 seconds back. 

At mile 20 (5:01) Keitany led by 53 seconds and the final 10k was a coronation of her greatness.

Rio Olympic 5,000m champion Cheruiyot and defending champion Flanagan came from the second pack to finish second and third after deciding not to go with the lead pack when it emerged in the second half of the race.

Four Americans: Flanagan, Molly Huddle in fourth, Desiree Linden in sixth, and Allie Kieffer in seventh, were in the top 10.

In the men’s race after running side by side with defending champion Kamworor, Lelisa threw off his hat, put in a surge, and dropped the Kenyan.

Victory looked to be his. However, fellow Ethiopian Shura, who had pushed the pace early in the race, but had been eight seconds back in third at the 25 mile mark, began a furious push to the finish.

Shura passed Kamworor and got within a few meters of Lelisa, the two-time Boston Marathon winner as they made the final turn into Central Park.

In the end, the winner had just enough left in reserve himself and never let Shura pass him and he got his first New York City win to go with his Boston crowns.

Kamworor held on for third with 2015 London winner, Daniel Wanjiru (2:10:21) and Festus Talam (2:12:40) making Kenya’s presence in the top 10 felt when they came home in fifth and seventh in that order.

-Material from www.letsrun.com used to compile this report

Leading results

Men

1          Lelisa Desisa              ETH    2:05:59

2          Shura Kitata                ETH    2:06:01

3          Geoffrey Kamworor    KEN    2:06:26

4          Tamirat Tola                ETH    2:08:30

5          Daniel Wanjiru           KEN    2:10:21

6          Jared Ward                 USA    2:12:24

7          Scott Fauble                USA    2:12:28

8          Festus Talam              KEN    2:12:40

9          Shadrack Biwott          USA    2:12:52

10        Chris Derrick              USA    2:13:08

Women

1          Mary Keitany              KEN    2:22:48

2          Vivian Cheruiyot          KEN    2:26:02

3          Shalane Flanagan       USA    2:26:22

4          Molly Huddle               USA    2:26:44

5          Rahma Tusa               ETH    2:27:13

6          Desiree Linden            USA    2:27:51

7          Allie Kieffer                  USA    2:28:12

8          Lisa Weightman          AUS    2:29:11

9          Mamitu Daska            ETH    2:30:31

10        Belaynesh Fikadu       ETH    2:30:47