NEW YORK (AFP) – Stanley Biwott notched the biggest win of his career on Sunday in the New York City Marathon, where fellow Kenyan Mary Keitany triumphed for the second straight year.
Biwott, 29, broke away from his rivals in a leading quartet in the final two miles in Central Park to win in 2hr 10min 34sec.
”From the start the pace was a bit slow, but when I decided to make a move, I knew I was feeling strong, and I was feeling OK. I knew I could make it all the way to the finish,” said Biwott.
Defending champion Wilson Kipsang was fourth — another disappointment for the former world record holder in a season that saw him beaten into second place in London and forced to abandon at the World Championships.
Keitany was even more impressive this year in her title defense through the five boroughs of the Big Apple.
The 33-year-old clocked 2:24:25 to become the eighth woman to win multiple New York titles and the first two win back-to-back editions since Britain’s Paula Radcliffe in 2007 and 2008.