The Hindu : Sport / Athletics : Keflezighi scores a landmark victory

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Nov 03, 2009
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Sport

Sport - Athletics

Keflezighi scores a landmark victory

— Photo: AP

Moment to cherish: Meb Keflezighi of the United States, hugs his mother and daughter at the finish line.

NEW YORK: Meb Keflezighi became the first American man to win the New York City Marathon since 1982 on Sunday.

Derartu Tulu of Ethiopia won the women’s race, with two-time defending champion Paula Radcliffe falling back to fourth, and grabbing her left leg in pain after finishing.

Landmark victory

Keflezighi, the 2004 Olympic silver medallist, learned after a disappointing performance in the U.S. Olympic trials in New York two years ago he had a stress fracture in his hip. He capped the long and painful comeback with a landmark victory against a strong field for his first major marathon title.

That day in 2007 he also lost close friend Ryan Shay, who collapsed and died during the race. Keflezighi said the tears he shed after winning were for Shay.

Born in Eritrea, the 34-year-old became a U.S. citizen in 1998. He was second in New York in 2004 and third in 2005. Wearing “USA” on his chest, Keflezighi won in 2 hours, 9 minutes, 15 seconds.

Nearly 44,000 runners started the 40th edition of the race on Sunday.

The results: Men: 1. Meb Keflezighi (U.S.) 2hrs, 9min, 15sec.; 2. Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot (Ken) 2:09:56; 3. Jaouad Gharib (Morocco) 2:10:25.

Women: 1. Derartu Tulu (Eth) 2:28:52; 2. Ludmila Petrova (Rus) 2:29:00; 3. Christelle Daunay (Fra) 2:29:16. — AP

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport