Kenyans Biwott and Keitany win NYC Marathon
It was a Kenyan clean sweep at the New York City Marathon on Sunday, with compatriots Stanley Biwott and Mary Keitany taking out the men's and women's races. The Kenyans beat more than 50,000 participants at this year’s race.
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Biwott, who was fourth in London earlier this year, realised the biggest win of his career.
He took command by the 23rd mile to pull ahead of fellow Kenyan Geoffery Kamworor, his biggest challenger.
The 29-year-old won in 2 hours, 10 minutes and 34 seconds.
Speaking after the race, he said, "It was fantastic. The pace was slow [in the first half of the race] but I knew that last 15 kilometres, and I pushed hard."
Meanwhile, Keitany triumphed for the second year in a row, clocking 2 hours 24 minutes and 25 seconds.
She's now the eighth woman to win multiple New York titles. Keitany attributed her success to patience and biding her time.
“At the beginning, I did not go [make a move] because I know the course in New York. Many times I had run it. So I said, ‘Let me just wait'."
The 33-year-old waited until the 21st mile.
“I say, ‘OK, let me just go, and if somebody is more strong, she can come and we can go [...] but fortunately they never got me. So I just crossed the line alone.”
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