Original Story Published by: Denis P. Gorman for The Kansas City Star
Photo Source: ©Seth Wenig/AP Photo
(Above) Lelisa Desisa, of Ethiopia, crosses the finish line first in the men’s division of the New York City Marathon in New York, Sunday, Nov. 4, 2018..
NEW YORK
By the time Mary Keitany was pacing her way up Manhattan's First Avenue, she had no reason to look back for challengers. The Kenyan's lead was growing over the strong women's field with every stride, and all she thought about was the finish line.
Lelisa Desisa of Ethiopia didn't break out into a big grin until he pulled away from two opponents late in the race.
In perfect crisp autumn weather for distance runners, Keitany and Desisa won the New York City Marathon on Sunday in near record times.
Keitany, 36, became the second woman to win the marathon four times. She ran the race in 2 hours, 22 minutes, 48 seconds, the second fastest time for the course in history. Margaret Okayo of Kenya set the record of 2:22:31 in 2003.
"I can say the course record was not in my mind," Keitany said. "For me, winning was the most important."
Desisa, 28, held off countryman Shura Kitata by 1.99 seconds for his first win in New York, joining victories at the Boston Marathon in 2013 and 2015. He finished second in New York in 2014 and third in 2015 and 2017.
"This is my dream," Desisa said. "To be a champion."
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