Geoffrey Mutai of Kenya smashed the 10-year-old course record on Sunday as he added the New York marathon crown to his success from earlier in the year in Boston.
Mutai broke a leader group after the 30 kilometres mark to take victory in 2 hours 5 minutes 6 seconds.
Compatriot Emmanuel Mutai was second in 2:06:28. Third-placed Tsegaye Kebede of Ethiopia also stayed below the old course record of 2:07:43 from countryman Tesfaje Yifar by recording 2:07.13 hours.
Mutai gained fame in Boston by winning in 2:03:02 hours but the time was not ratified as a world record because of the course specifications there.
The women’s course record of 2:22:31 from Kenyan Margret Okayo was not bettered as countrywoman Mary Keitany tired rapidly in the closing stages and victory went to Ethiopian Firehiwot Dado.
Dado, a three-time winner in Rome, won in 2:23:15. Compatriot Buzunesh Deba took second place four seconds adrift on 2:23:19 and the fading Keitany had to settle for third in 2:23:39.
The London winner Keitany set a blistering pace early on and still led by more than a minute with five kilometres left.
