by Parker Morse
NEW YORK -- Mebrahtom Keflezighi and Derartu Tulu won the 40th running of the ING New York City Marathon this morning clocking 2:09:15 and 2:28:52, respectively. Keflezighi was the first American champion in the event since Alberto Salazar in 1982.
Keflezighi broke away from four-time Boston Marathon champion Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot shortly before turning in to Central Park at 90th street. He steadily increased his lead through the closing two miles. Keflezighi also became the USATF Marathon champion, as the U.S. men's championship was run concurrently with the marathon.
Tulu stayed with the lead pack of five through the Bronx as the leaders first dropped Boston champion Salina Kosgei of Kenya. The next major contender to drop was three-time New York winner Paula Radcliffe, and finally smooth-running Frenchwoman Christelle Daunay in the final miles.
Tulu's last rival was 2000 New York champion Ludmila Petrova, the runner-up last year as well. Tulu, the Olympic 10,000m gold medalist in 1992 at the age of 18, broke away on Central Park and held off Petrova through the finish with an eight-second lead at the finish.
Ryan Hall was the second American finisher in 2:10:36, behind Cheruiyot (2:09:15) and Jaoud Gharib (2:09:56) of Morocco. There were six Americans in the first 10 finishers.
Look for a full report from New York later.
Derartu Tulu, of Ethiopia, won the women’s New York Marathon in 2:28:52 on November 1, 2009. Paula Ratcliffe finished 4th. (Photo: Steve Bower/RunnersWeb.com)
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