Kipsang and Keitany win New York marathon clean sweep for Kenya

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/nov/02/wilson-kipsang-mary-keitany-win-new-york-marathon-kenya

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The Kenyans Wilson Kipsang and Mary Keitany have won the men’s and women’s titles at Sunday’s New York City marathon.

Former world-record holder Kipsang won in an unofficial time of 2hr, 10min, 59sec. He has now won in Berlin, London and New York in just over 13 months. Ethiopia’s Lelisa Desisa was second, and 2010 champ Gebre Gebremariam third.

Keitany, running her first marathon since 2012, won the women’s title. She overtook countrywoman Jemima Sumgong with about half a mile to go in her first marathon after the birth of her second child.

Keitany won in an unofficial time of 2hr, 25min, 7sec — three seconds ahead of Sumgong, which equalled the closest finish in the history of the women’s race.

On the men’s side, Boston Marathon champ Meb Keflezighi of the United States was fourth. Two-time defending champion Geoffrey Mutai, who had sought his third consecutive New York City win, was sixth.

Keitany’s win was redemption in New York, where she raced out to a big lead in 2011 only to be passed and forced to settle for third.

Sumgong is still seeking her first major marathon title. She was also second in Boston in 2012 and in Chicago in 2013.

Sumgong was making her NYC marathon debut, a late entry after defending champion and training partner Priscah Jeptoo withdrew because of a leg injury.