2018 NYC Marathon Diary: What a second half for Keitany !

NEW YORK (USA, Nov 4): Kenya’s Mary Keitany won her fourth New York Marathon title in the second fastest winning time in race history of 2:22:48 with an incredible second half split of 66:58. Keitany won by more than three minutes from London Marathon winner and teammate Vivian Cheruiyot in 2:26:02 (75:50/70:12) and reigning champion Shalane Flanagan 2:26:22 (75:49/70:33). Molly Huddle just missed a podium spot in fourth in 2:26:44 and Ethiopia’s Rahma Tusa faded back to fifth in 2:27:13 after following the break. World half marathon champion and teammate Netsanet Gudeta, who made the break just before halfway, fell out of contention in mile 19 and dropped out in the 24th mile. In the men’s race, Ethiopia’s Lelisa Desisa returned to winning form with his first marathon victory since Boston 2015, also winning in the second fastest time in race history of 2:05:59 (63:57/62:02) ahead of teammate and long-time leader Shura Kitata in 2:06:01 with reigning champion Geoffrey Kamworor from Kenya fading back to third in 2:06:26. Jared Ward was the leading US finisher in sixth in 2:12:24, one of four Americans inside the top-10. On his marathon debut, former world 1500m and 5000m champion Bernard Lagat (will be 44 in December) clocked 2:17:20.