NEW YORK (AFP) – Two-time Boston Marathon champion Lelisa Desisa held off Ethiopian compatriot Shura Kitata by two seconds to win Sunday’s 48th New York City Marathon.
Desisa surged late to grab the lead then withstood a finishing kick from Kitata to win the 26.2-mile showdown over the streets of New York in an unofficial time of two hours, five minutes and 59 seconds.
Kitata, six years younger than Desisa at age 22, settled for a second major marathon runner-up finish this year and taking second in London.
Defending champion Geoffrey Kamworor of Kenya was third in 2:06:26.
Desisa was 54 seconds off the New York men’s record set in 2011 by Geoffrey Mutai of Kenya.
