Geoffrey Mutai (C) celebrates after winning NYC Marathon: PHOTO: D Simpson
NEW YORK (Sporting Alert) — Geoffrey Mutai and fellow Kenyan Priscah Jeptoo captured the men’s and women’s races at the 2013 ING New York City Marathon on Sunday.
Jeptoo ran a very conservative race at the start, and then made her move in the second half of the race to cut a huge three and a half minute lead that Buzunesh Deba held on her way to winning in 2 hours, 25 minutes and o7 seconds.
The Kenyan caught up to Deba with two and a half miles to go in the race and then pulled away from the Ethiopian to secure the crown.
Deba was second in 2:25:46, while former champion Jelena Prokopcuka of Latvia, returning after a five year break, battled her way to third place in 2:27:47 in very windy conditions.
On the men’s side, defending champion and course record holder Mutai, who coaches himself, successfully defended his crown from 2011 with a winning run of 2:08:24 after he broke away from the field.
The New York Marathon was not held in 2012 as it was cancelled due to the damage caused by hurricane Sandy.
Finishing second on Sunday was Tsegaye Kebede of Ethiopia, who ran 2:09:16, with South African Lusapho April, 2:09:45, taking third.
RESULTS
MEN TOP THREE
Geoffrey Mutai , KEN, 2:08:24
Tsegaye Kebede, ETH, 2:09:16
Lusapho April, RSA, 2:09:45
WOMEN TOP THREE
Priscah Jeptoo, KEN, 2:25:07
Buzunesh Deba, ETH, 2:25:46
Jelena Prokopcuka, LAT, 2:27:47
