by Larry EderThis is the European view of the 2014 TCS New York City, courtesy of our partners at EME News, Alfons Juck and Alberto Stretti!
NEW YORK (USA, Nov 2): A very cold and windy day didn’t help runners at the TCS New York City Marathon but the race was amazing with top duels without pacers. It was also a Kenyan day as Mary Keitany and Wilson Kipsang were the winners. For both the winning prize money of 100 000 USD. Kipsang with his win is also the World Marathon Majors 2013-14 winner by one point and will get another 500 000 USD. He is also first marathon runner who won New York, Berlin and London marathons. Women were headed at the begin by Italian World and European medalist Valeria Straneo and Portugal´s debutant Sara Moreira with half 1:13:45 and 30k in 1:44:34. Very intelligent race of Mary Keitany who started conservative, in second part threw down the sleeves and started her kick.
Only Jemima Sumgong stayed with her and both dueled until the last meters. Keitany in first marathon after mother break since 2012 Olympic Games won in 2:25:04 just two seconds ahead of Sumgong 2:25:06. Excellent debut and third place for Sara Moreira of Portugal 2:25:59. Another European was fourth, the former winner here Latvian Jelena Prokopcuka 2:26:15. Fifth best US of the day Desiree Linden 2:28:10. Straneo ended 8th 2:29:23 and not a good day for World champion Edna Kiplagat who finished with 2:36:23 (13th, but could be the WMM winner), also to note 11th Deena Kastor 2:33:18 and 12th Ana Dulce Felix 2:35:33. In the men race first part in difficult conditions 1:06:55, but afterwards the drama started. Geoffrey Mutai and Kipsang the favourites started their kick. A group of four went away and later at 23rd mile Kipsang and Ethiopian Lelisa Desisa did the right kick to leave them alone till the finish.
At final meters an interesting moment when Desisa with a arm touched innocently Kipsang who then speeded up, took the lead and went away in impressive way and won in 2:10:59. Second Desisa 2:11:06 and third former winner here Gebre Gebremariam 2:12:13. Fourth best US Meb Keflezighi 2:13:17 and ahead of Olympic and World winner Stephen Kiprotich from Uganda 2:13:24. Mutai only sixth 2:13:43 and 7th Japanese Masato Imai 2:14:35. His team-mate Yuki Kawauchi was 11th in 2:16:41. Italian Danilo Goffi was 15th as best European in 2:19:44. Danish tennis star Caroline Wozniacki finished in 3:26:33.
With help of Alberto Stretti.
