NEW YORK -- For about an hour Sunday in the 2019 TCS New York City Marathon, Joyciline Jepkosgei ran alongside four-time champion and countrywoman Mary Keitany. It was either runner's race to win.

But then in the 23rd mile, Jepkosgei, from Kenya, took in some fluids and began to look stronger. And stronger. It was she, not one of the legends of the New York City marathon, who was taker longer strides and pushing herself past her threshold. Jepkosgei first broke away from Keitany by four seconds. By the 25th mile, she was leading by more than 16 seconds, even as she was visibly laboring down the stretch. At one point, Jepkosgei turned to make sure she had enough distance between her and Keitany. Jepkosgei had nothing to worryabout. She was about to make history.

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Jepkosgei, 25, was making her marathon debut. For Keitany, she had won this event four of the past five years. Jepkosgei crossed the finish line at 2:23:32 and raised her hands in the air as her stoic face gave way to a victory smile.

"I knew Mary had more experience in marathon, so I was trying to push," Jepkosgei said during an interview at the finish line.

Keitany finished 54 seconds later, and afterward, praised her faster opponent's performance.

"I celebrate my colleague [Joyciline Jepkosgei]," Keitany said in her post-race news conference. "We are happy that we won medals back home