by RBR Admin
Walt Murphy is one of the finest track geeks that I know. Walt does #ThisDayinTrack&FieldHistory, an excellent daily service that provides true geek stories about our sport. You can check out the service for FREE with a free one-month trial subscription! (email: [email protected] ) for the entire daily service. We will post a few historic moments each day, beginning February 1, 2024.
by Walt Murphy’s News and Results Service ([email protected]), used with permission
Walt Murphy’s News and Results Service ([email protected])
This Day in Track & Field–November 6
1883—The NYAC organizes the 1st American cross-country championship race. Thomas Delaney (26:30) won over the 4.25-mile course in New York City.
From the NY Times:
The spectators were numerous. As the course lay for some distance along the King’s Bridge road, many were present in carriages, and several horseback parties of ladies and gentlemen followed the runners.
After the race, the tired runners were fed sandwiches and clam chowder and returned to the city. One of them, whose name is withheld for the sake of his relatives, lost his trousers during the race and came home covered with confusion and a horse blanket.
NY Times Archives (For Subscribers?): https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1883/11/07/103441549.pdf?pdf_redirect=true&ip=0
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USA_Cross_Country_Championships
1909—George Bonhag set an American Record of 31:05.2 for 6 miles at Celtic Park in NY City.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Bonhag
TCS NY City Marathon
1988—Great Britain’s Steve Jones, a native of Wales, was the Men’s winner in 2:08:20, the 2nd fastest time ever on the course (at the time). His 3:21 margin of victory over Italy’s Salvatore Bettiol (2:11:41) is still the largest in the 5-boro event’s history. 3rd was Ireland’s John Treacy (2:13:18). Norway’s Grete Waitz (2:28:07), coming back from an injury-plagued 1987 season, won her record 9th (and final) women’s title. 2nd and 3rd were Italy’s Laura Fogli (2:31:26) and American Joan Benoit Samuelson (2:32:40), the 1984 Olympic champion.
Waitz finished 2nd to Benoit-Samuelson at the 1984 Olympics but didn’t view her win here as “revenge.” “The Olympics are special because they happen every fourth year,” she said. “You can’t have the Olympics all over again. Los Angeles was a completely different race. So many things have happened to Joanie, and so many things have happened to me. When I entered the race, I didn’t see this as a duel . . . Except for my first win here {in 1978}, this is the one I’m most happy for.”
Samuelson and Waitz ran together through the halfway point. Samuelson continued contending at Mile 21 until she fell after colliding with a child trying to give water to another runner. “It caught me totally off guard,” Samuelson said. “If I had seen it coming, I would have broken every bone in my body. I wouldn’t call it a memorable moment. I’d just as soon forget it.”
Geoff Wightman, who finished 14th (2:14:50) in the Men’s race, is a familiar voice in the sport. He has announced many significant events, including the New York City Marathon! He also coaches his son Jake, who won the 1500 meters at the 2022 World Championships.
Other Notable Finishers
Men: 3. John Treacy (Ireland) 2:13:18, 4. Gidamis Shahanga (Tanzania) 2:13:50…8.Mark Nenow (USA) 2:14:21
By the numbers: Starters-23,463 (M-19,310, W-4,153; Finishers-22,405 (M-18,431, W-3,974)
Results: https://results.nyrr.org/event/881106/finishers
Top 20: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1988_New_York_City_Marathon
Looking Back(2020): https://www.worldathletics.org/news/feature/grete-waitz-nine-victories-new-york-city-mara
1994—The men’s race provided one of the most bizarre finishes in history. With less than a mile to go, Germán Silva was battling fellow Mexican (and training partner) Benjamin Paredes for the lead on Central Park South when he mistakenly followed the lead vehicles into Central Park, which were making a necessary early exit from the race. Silva, reacting to the frantic gestures of officials and police officers, quickly went into reverse and eventually caught Paredes, winning by a mere two seconds (2:11:21-2:11:23).
Silva, a good sport, helped recreate the moment the following night in a skit on the David Letterman Show!
Kenya’s Tegla Loroupe became the first woman from Africa to win a major marathon, finishing first in 2:27:37
This was the first year as race director for Allen Steinfeld, who had taken the reins from Fred Lebow, who lost his battle with cancer the previous month.
Sadly, two men suffered heart attacks after finishing the race and were pronounced dead after being taken to a nearby hospital.
Other Notable Finishers
Men: 3. Arturo Barrios 2:11:43, 4. Sammy Lelei (Kenya) 2:12:24…9.Salvatore Bettiol (Italy) 2:13:44…17.Gianni Poli (Italy/1986 winner) 2:19:27
Women: 2.Madina Biktagirova (Belarus) 2:30:00, 3.Anne-Marie Lauck (USA) 2:30:19, 4.Anuța Cătună (Romania/would win in 1996) 2:31:26…6.Olga Appell (USA) 2:32:45; DNF-Kim Jones
By the numbers: Starters-31,129 (M-23,814, W-7,315), Finishers-29,735 (M-22,758, W-6,977)
That Finish: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzMi5zzHHic
2005—The Men’s race provided the closest finish in NY history. After battling shoulder-to-shoulder through the last ¼-mile, Kenya’s Paul Tergat, the World Record holder, edged ahead of South Africa’s Hendrick Ramaala, the defending champion, to win by .3s (Official times-2:09:30 2:09:31)! The two went at it down the final stretch in Central Park, with Ramaala falling to the ground after he crossed the finish line. Finishing 3rd and 5th were Americans Meb Keflezigh I (2:09:56) and Abdi Abdirahman (2:11:24). Meb had won the silver medal at the 2004 Olympics in Athens.
Latvia’s Jelena Prokopčuka (2:24:41) came from behind late in the race to win the Women’s division over Kenya’s Susan Chepkemei (2:24:55) and Ethiopia’s Derartu Tulu (2:25:21).
Other Notable Finishers
Men: 4. Robert Cheruiyot (Kenya) 2:11:01…9.Jon Brown (Great Britain) 2:13:29…11.Matt Downin (USA) 2:14:28…18.Ryan Shay (USA) 2:17:14; DNF-John Kagwe (Kenya)
Women: 6.Lyudmila Petrova (Russia) 2:27:21, 7.Gete Wami (Ethiopia) 2:27:40…10.Lornah Kiplagat (Netherlands) 2:28:28…18.Jen Rhines (USA) 2:37:07
By the numbers: Starters-37,597 (M-25,279, W-12,318; Finishers-36,857 (M-24,795, W-12,062)
http://www.marathonguide.com/results/browse.cfm?MIDD=472051106
Men’s Finish: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRT_EQrOzlc
Longer Version(in German): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbhlreoFP4o
2011—Ideal conditions and strong fields led to a slew of fast times in both races, with Kenya’s Geoffrey Mutai setting a Men’s Course Record of 2:05:06, which stood until 2023 when Ethiopia’s Tamirat Tola ran 2:04:58! Also under the previous CR of 2:07:43 were Kenya’s Emmanuel Mutai (2:06:18) and Ethiopia’s Tsegaye Kebede (2:07:14). 6th in 2:09:13 was American Meb Keflezighi. It was the 2nd fast win of the year for Mutai, who had run an incredible 2:03:02 in Boston in April.
In the Women’s division, Kenya’s Mary Keitany was on a World Record pace through the ½-way point but slowed a little in the latter stages of the race and was passed by the Ethiopian duo of Firehiwot Dado (2:23:15) and Buzunesh Deba (2:23:19). Keitany still ran a creditable 2:23:38 in 3rd place. She would become a 4-time winner in NY (2014-2016, 2018).
Other Notable Finishers
Men: 4.Gebre Gebremariam (Ethiopia/2010 winner) 2:08:00, 5.Jaouad Gharib (Morocco) 2:08:26…9.Ed Moran (USA) 2:11:47
Women: 5. Kim Smith (New Zealand) 2:25:46…16.Lauren Fleshman (USA) 2:37:22
By the numbers: Starters-47,763 (M-30,200, W-17,563), Finishers-47,340 (M-30,068, W-17,272)
Results: https://results.nyrr.org/event/108/finishers
Top 20: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_New_York_City_Marathon
https://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/07/sports/dado-wins-womens-title-in-new-york-city-marathon.html
Mutai Feature: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjzWoWwYad0
All-Time Men’s Performances (through 2024)
1.2:04:48 Tamirat Tola Ethiopia 2023
2.2:05:06 Geoffrey Mutai Kenya 2011
3.2:05:59 Lelisa Desisa Ethiopia 2018
4.2:06:01 Shura Kitata Ethiopia 2018
5.2:06:26 Geoffrey Kamworor Kenya 2018
6.2:06.28 Emmanuel Mutai Kenya 2011
7.2:06:57 Albert Korir Kenya 2023
8.2:07:11 Shura Kitata Ethiopia 2023
9.2:07:13 Tsegaye Kebede Ethiopia 2011
10.2:07:43 Tesfaye Jifar Ethiopia 2001
2016—Kenya’s Mary Keitany (2:24:26) was unchallenged as she won the women’s race for the 3rd year in a row (she would win again in 2018). Finishing a distant 2nd and 3rd in their marathon debuts were Kenya’s Sally Kipyego (2:28:01) and American Molly Huddle (2:28:13).
Eritrea’s Ghirmay Ghebreslassie, the 2015 World Champion, won the men’s race in 2:07:51. Although he was only 20 then, he’s still the youngest winner in NY. 39-year-old Abdi Abdirahman (USA) finished third in 2:11:23 at the other end of the age spectrum.
Other Notable Finishers
Men:2.Lucas Rotich (KEN) 2:08:53…5.Shadrack Kiptoo Biwott 2:12:01; DNF: Lelisa Desisa (Ethiopia), Dathan Ritzenhein
Women:9.Sara Hall 2:36:12…14.Gwen Jorgensen 2:41:01…16.Kim Conley 2:41:38
By the numbers: Starters-51,999 (M-30,285, W-21,714); Finishers-51,394 (M-29,930, W-21,464)
Results: https://results.nyrr.org/event/M2016/finishers
Top 20: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2016_New_York_City_Marathon
https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/06/sports/nyc-marathon-2016.html
http://www.marathonguide.com/results/browse.cfm?MIDD=472161106
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIJ_wqcMtCU
2022—Winners Evans Chebet (2:08:41) and Sharon Lokedi (2:23:23), making her debut at the distance, made it a Kenyan sweep at the TCS NY City Marathon.
Chebet, who had also won in Boston in April, was running in 2nd place when Brazil’s Daniel Do Nascimento, who had built a massive lead after going out at World Record pace, collapsed during Mile 21 and dropped out of the race. (He had earlier taken a “potty break”).
Gianni Demadonna, his agent, told LetsRun that Do Nascimento “had diarrhea due to something he drank during the race” and that the ultimate cause of Do Nascimento’s collapse “….was that he underestimated the humidity and the warm[th] of NY today and in any case he opens [ed] too fast”. Do Nascimento was fine after being treated at a local hospital. (It was one of the warmest New City Marathons ever, with the temperature reaching a high of 74F/23C). It was the 2nd such experience for Do Nascimento, who also dropped out of the Olympic Marathon in 2021 after going out too fast.
Lokedi, the 2018 NCAA Champion at 10,000 meters while at Kansas, overtook Israel’s Lonah Chemtai Salpeter (2:23:30) in the final mile to secure the win. She is married to another NCAA Champion (17 times!), former Oregon Duck Edward Cheserek.
Kenya’s Edna Kiplagat, just 9 days shy of her 43rd birthday, finished 4th in 2:24:16. She won in NY in 2010 and was the World Champion in the Marathon in 2011 and 2013.
Fellow Kenyan Hellen Obiri (2:25:49), a 2-time World Champion at 5000 meters, finished a disappointing (to her) 6th in her first marathon.
Other notable/U.S. finishers:
Men: 2.Shura Kitata (ETH) 2:08:54…7.Albert Korir (KEN) 2:13:27…9.Scott Fauble (USA) 2:13:35, 10.Reed Fischer (USA) 2:15:23, 11.Jared Ward (USA) 2:17:09…13.Leonard Korir (USA) 2:17:29
Women: 3.Gotytom Gebreslase (ETH) 2:23:39…5.Viola Cheptoo Lagat (KEN) 2:25:34…7.Aliphine Tuliamuk (USA) 2:26:18, 8.Emma Bates (USA) 2:26:53…10.Nell Rojas (USA) 2:28:32…12.Stephanie Bruce (USA) 2:30:34.
By the numbers: Starters-48,726 (M-27,153, W-21,526); Finishers-47,840 (M-26,609, W-21,185)
https://results.nyrr.org/event/M2022/finishers
https://www.nytimes.com/live/2022/11/06/sports/nyc-marathon
LetsRun Coverage: https://www.letsrun.com/events/2022/11/2022-tcs-new-york-city-marathon
Do Nascimento:
Top-10: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022_New_York_City_Marathon
https://www.runnersworld.com/news/a41836478/nyc-marathon-2022-results/
Past NY City Marathon Winners: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_winners_of_the_New_York_City_Marathon
Media Guide (2024)
Through The Years:
Memorable Moments:
