NEW YORK (AP) — Mary Keitany and Ghirmay Ghebreslassie came in first place in the women’s and men’s heats, respectively, of the 2016 TCS New York City Marathon.

Keitany, 34, is from Kenya and this win is her third consecutive TCS New York City Marathon title.

Her time was 2:24:26 according to the NYC Marathon Twitter account.

Ghebreslassie, 20, from Eritrea, is a decorated runner with several wins under his belt. This is his first time winning the NYC Marathon.

He became the youngest ever world marathon winner at age 19 when he won gold at the IAAF World Championships.

Ghebreslassie’s time was 2:07:51 according to the NYC Marathon Twitter account.

The five-borough marathon, the world’s largest, is marking its milestone 40th anniversary with Sunday’s race.

About 50,000 runners from more than 120 countries started the 26.2-mile race Sunday morning on Staten Island and crossed the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge.

It all began in 1970 when 126 men and one woman circled Central Park. Six years later, 2,000 amateurs took to the streets of New York, touching all five boroughs for the first time.

The winner was Bill Rodgers, then and three more times.

This is a developing story. Refresh this page for updates.</s>NEW YORK (AP) — Eritrea’s Ghirmay Ghebreslassie and Kenya’s Mary Keitany won the New York City Marathon on Sunday.

Keitany became the first woman to win three straight titles since Grete Waltz won five straight from 1982 to 1986. She pulled away around the 15th mile and finished with an unofficial time of 2 hours, 24 minutes, 26 seconds — one second behind her time last year.

Ghebreslassie finished his debut in New York with a time of 2:7:51.

For most of the course, the men’s field was a three-man race between Ghebreslassie, Kenya’s Lucas Rotich and Ethiopia’s Lelisa Desisa. By mile 20, Ghebreslassie began gradually pulling away.

The 20-year-old beat Rotich by 62 seconds to become the youngest male winner in New York. The previous youngest male winners were Alberto Salazar in 1980 and Tom Fleming in 1973, who won as 22-year-olds.

Defending champion Stanley Biwott of Kenya withdrew at the 10-mile mark with a right calf injury. He also dropped out in the Rio Olympics after getting sick.

Desisa, who was the runner-up in New York in 2014 and a two-time Boston Marathon winner, dropped out at the 22nd mile.

Tatyana McFadden won the women’s wheelchair race to sweep the four major marathons for the fourth straight year.

The 27-year-old American finished with an unofficial time of 1:47:43. She completed the Grand Slam by winning in London, Boston, Chicago and New York, extending her record streak to 17 straight wins in major marathons.

McFadden, who won six medals at the Rio Paralympics, took the lead for good at the 15-mile mark and comfortably led the rest of the course to win for the fifth time in New York.

Marcel Hug of Switzerland won his second NYC Marathon title in the men’s race and his sixth marathon this year. He edged Australia’s Kurt Fearnley by a sixth-tenths of a second, repeating their photo finish at last month’s Chicago marathon.

Defending champion Ernst Van Dyk of South Africa came in fourth.

This story has been corrected to show that Ghebreslassie is 20 years old, not 19.</s>New York (AP) – Quite a run at the New York City Marathon for Mary Keitany. Pretty swift debut for Ghirmay Ghebreslassie, too.

Keitany won the race for the third straight time Sunday, pulling away with more than 10 miles to go and breezing home to the finish line in Central Park.

“Alone in the streets,” the 34-year-old Kenyan said.

Except for the cheering fans, of course, who packed the course to root on the record-setting 52,049 runners from 120 nations as they wound through all five of the city’s boroughs.

At 20, Ghebreslassie became the youngest men’s winner in this event. Alberto Salazar (1980) and Tom Fleming (1973) won as 22-year-olds.

Ghebreslassie was the first native of Eritrea to win the New York marathon. He finished his debut in 2:07:51.

“I’m really proud of it,” he said.

Keitany defended her title in 2 hours, 24 minutes, 26 seconds, one second behind her time last year. She beat countrywoman Sally Kipyego by nearly four minutes, and became the first woman to win this race three times in a row since Grete Waitz took five straight from 1982-86.

Keitany made her move a lot earlier than last year, when she distanced herself from the field at the 21st mile.

This time, when she exited the Queensboro Bridge and entered Manhattan, the only people near Keitany were a police escort and the fans.

“I was not imagining of any time,” she said. “I just went early.”

Keitany pulled away after 15 miles and was the first woman to win by more than 3 1/2 minutes since Waitz finished 3:52 ahead of Patti Catalano in 1980.

“Those two last miles can be difficult,” said Kipyego, who moved into second in the 24th mile.

“I just kept telling myself to look forward, don’t worry about who’s behind you, and keep your head down and try to stay in rhythm,” she said.

Molly Huddle of the United States was third in 2:28:13 in her marathon debut.

Keitany was two seconds ahead through the 14th mile, then was 20 seconds in front through the 15-mile mark as the race crossed into Manhattan.

Keitany kept up her pace running on First Avenue and after 20 miles led by more than two minutes.

After heading down Fifth Avenue, she entered Central Park at Columbus Circle and coasted home, short of the women’s record of 2:22:31 by Kenya’s Margaret Okayo in 2003.

Keitany crossed the finish line and hugged her two children and her family.

“I was happy for them to be in New York,” she said.

Huddle finished in the top three after setting an American record at the 10,000 meters in the Rio Olympics.

For most of the course, the men’s field was a three-man race between Ghebreslassie, Kenya’s Lucas Rotich and Ethiopia’s Lelisa Desisa.

By mile 20, Ghebreslassie gradually began pulling away. He beat Rotich by 62 seconds and Abdi Abdirahman was third in 2:11:23.

Defending champion Stanley Biwott of Kenya withdrew at the 10-mile mark with a right calf injury. He also dropped out in the Rio Olympics after getting sick.

Desisa, who was the runner-up in New York in 2014 and a two-time Boston Marathon winner, dropped out at the 22nd mile.

Tatyana McFadden took the women’s wheelchair race, keeping up her long winning streak. The 27-year-old finished in 1:47:43 and swept the London, Boston, Chicago and New York events for the fourth straight year, giving her 17 straight victories overall in major marathons.

McFadden won six medals at the Rio Paralympic Games.

Marcel Hug of Switzerland won for the second year in a row in the men’s wheelchair division. He edged Australia’s Kurt Fearnley by sixth-tenths of a second, repeating their close finish at last month’s Chicago marathon.</s>Ghirmay Ghebreslassie of Eritrea wins the New York City Marathon on November 6, 2016. By Elsa (Getty/AFP)

New York (AFP) - Reigning world marathon champion Ghirmay Ghebreslassie of Eritrea won the 40th New York City Marathon men's crown Sunday while Kenya's Mary Keitany took her third consecutive women's title.

Ghebreslassie won his New York debut in an official time of two hours, seven minutes and 51 seconds -- only five seconds off his personal best set in London.

"Winning the New York Marathon is one of my best dreams," Ghebreslassie said. "I'm really proud of my victory. Nobody from Eritrea has won this marathon before. I'm really proud."

Eight days shy of his 21st birthday, the prodigy accelerated at the halfway mark and pulled away to become the first men's champion since 2010 from outside Kenya.

Kenya's Lucas Rotich was second in 2:08:53 with 39-year-old American Abdi Abdirahman third in 2:11:23 and Japan's Hiroyuki Yamamoto fourth in his first marathon outside Japan, another 26 seconds adrift.

In the women's race, Keitany also pulled away to an overwhelming victory, the 34-year-old mother of two winning in 2:24:26.

"I feel good," Keitany said. "I'm very excited. Winning three times consecutively means a lot to me."

Keitany, the second-fastest woman in marathon history behind Britain's Paula Radcliffe, has the longest New York women's win streak since Norway's Grete Waitz took five in a row from 1982-1986.

Kenya's Sally Kipyego was second in 2:28:01, 12 seconds ahead of American Molly Huddle, third in her marathon debut. Kenya's Joyce Chepkirui, third in Boston this year, was fourth in 2:29:08.

Each champion over the 26.2-mile distance took home a top prize of $100,000.

Ghebreslassie's triumph came after fourth-place finishes at London and the Rio Olympics.

At the halfway mark, Ghebreslassie, Kenya's Lucas Rotich and Ethiopian Lelisa Desisa, last year's Boston Marathon champion, pulled away.

In the 20th mile, Ghebreslassie surged away from Rotich and Desisa, accelerating ahead to leave behind his last threats.

The Eritrean shared a high five with Rotich, running back down the course to greet him before the finish.

"I wanted to shake hands with him," said Ghebreslassie.

Abdirahman was thrilled to make the podium after a previous best showing of sixth in New York.

"I was a believer anything could happen," he said. "I did what I was supposed to do. I did what I could control. I was ready to run."

Kenya's Stanley Biwott, last year's New York champion, was out before the halfway mark in another disappointment. Biwott dropped halfway into the Rio Olympic marathon, saying he was given the wrong water bottle and that caused stomach issues.

With plenty of time to prepare for her Big Apple run after not being selected to compete at Rio, Keitany outclased the field.

In a pack of 14 after five miles, Keitany picked up the pace and by the 10-mile mark had trimmed the lead group to herself, Chepkirui and Ethiopia's Aselefech Mergia.

By mile 12, Mergia was falling back and at 15 miles, Keitany had opened a 10-second lead. By mile 16, Chepkirui's gap was 33 seconds back and growing as Keitany surged to the finish alone.

"I started to run my own race at 15 miles and started to follow my tactics and continue with my race," she said.</s>The win means she has won the last 17 major marathon races - London, Boston, Chicago and New York - including four calendar-year clean sweeps.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS - Kenya's Mary Keitany has become the first woman to win three consecutive New York Marathons for 30 years.Keitany, 34, ran a time of two hours 24 minutes 26 seconds to become the first to accomplish the feat since Norway's Grete Waitz - who won five in a row."Winning three times means a lot to me. It's not easy but I got it," she said.Eritrean world champion Ghirmay Ghebreslassie, 20, beat Kenya's Lucas Rotich in the men's race to become New York's youngest ever winner.Ghebreslassie, who finished fourth at both the London Marathon and the Rio Olympics this year, crossed the line in 2:07:51 to deny Kenya a fourth consecutive double in the New York men's and women's races."I am really proud with my victory today to be the first one from my country [to win the race]," he said.American Tatyana McFadden won her fourth straight New York women's wheelchair race in one hour 47 minutes 43 seconds.</s>Eritrea's Ghirmay Ghebreslassie, pictured in 2015, is the first male New York City Marathon winner from outside Kenya since 2010. By Johannes Eisele (AFP/File)

New York (AFP) - Eritrean Ghirmay Ghebreslassie, the reigning world marathon champion, captured the 40th New York City Marathon men's title on Sunday, the first winner from outside Kenya since 2010.

Eight days shy of his 21st birthday, the prodigy accelerated at the halfway mark and overwhelmed his rivals to run alone over the final miles to win in two hours, seven minutes and 51 seconds.

Ghebreslassie's New York debut came after a fourth-place showing at London and the Rio Olympics.

At the halfway mark, a trio pulled away from the pack -- Ghebreslassie, Kenya's Lucas Rotich and Ethiopian Lelisa Desisa, last year's Boston Marathon champion.

In the 20th mile, Ghebreslassie surged away from Rotich and Desisa, accelerating ahead to pull away from his last threats.

Rotich was second in 2:08:53 and shared a high five with his countryman, who ran back down the course to greet Rotich.

American Abdi Abdirahman, 39, was third in 2:11:23 with Japan's Hiroyuki Yamamoto fourth in his New York debut, another 26 seconds adrift.

Kenya's Stanley Biwott, last year's New York champion, was out before the halfway mark in another disappointment at the scene of his first major marathon crown.

In August at Rio, Biwott dropped out at the halfway point of the Olympic marathon, saying he was given the wrong water bottle and that caused stomach problems.</s>Mary Keitany of Kenya, pictured in 2015, has the longest New York City Marathon women's win streak since Norway's Grete Waitz took five in a row from 1982-1986. By Elsa (Getty/AFP/File)

New York (AFP) - Kenya's Mary Keitany captured her third consecutive New York City Marathon women's title on Sunday, pulling away just past the halfway mark on the way to an overwhelming triumph.

Keitany won in an unofficial time of two hours, 24 minutes and 26 seconds, well off the New York women's course record of 2:22.31 by Kenya's Margaret Okayo in 2003.

Keitany, the second-fastest woman in marathon history behind Britain's Paula Radcliffe, has the longest New York women's win streak since Norway's Grete Waitz took five in a row from 1982-1986.

With plenty of time to prepare for her 26.2-mile Big Apple run after not being selected to compete at the Rio Olympics, Keitany cruised to the $100,000 top prize.

Keitany was in a pack of 14 after five miles led by Ethiopia's Buzunesh Deba, twice a New York runner-up and Boston podium finisher without a win at either.

Keitany, whose personal best is 2:18:37, accelerated the pace and by the 10-mile mark the lead group had trimmed to herself, Kenya's Joyce Chepkirui and Ethiopia's Aselefech Mergia.

By mile 12, Mergia was falling back and at 15 miles, Keitany had opened a 10-second lead. By mile 16, Chepkirui's gap was 33 seconds back and growing and Keitany surged to the finish alone.</s>Hiroyuki Yamamoto finished fourth in the men’s race at the New York City Marathon on Sunday, posting the best result ever for a Japanese in the event.

Yamamoto, running in his first overseas marathon, crossed the finish line in 2 hours, 11 minutes, 49 seconds, nearly four minutes after 2015 world champion Ghirmay Ghebreslassie of Eritrea who at 20 became the youngest winner of the annual race.

“This is the result of having continued to train without giving up even when I was out of form,” said Yamamoto, who fell behind the leading pack at around 22 km but remained in contention for fourth place.

“When you’re looking to compete on the world stage, perseverance is the minimum requirement,” the 30-year-old runner said. “I got the feeling that I may be able to aim for a better placing.”

Mary Keitany won the women’s race for the third straight time, pulling away with more than 16 km to go and breezing home to the finish line in Central Park.

“Alone in the streets,” the 34-year-old Kenyan said.

Keitany defended her title in 2 hours, 24 minutes, 26 seconds, one second behind her time last year. She beat countrywoman Sally Kipyego by nearly four minutes, and became the first woman to win this race three times in a row since Grete Waitz took five straight from 1982-86.</s>A dominant Kenya’s Mary Keitany ran the last half of the race unchallenged to capture her third consecutive New York City Marathon title in 2 hours, 24 minutes and 26 seconds on Sunday.

Kenyan men failed the test in men’s race when World Marathon champion Ghimray Ghebreslassie from Eritrea claimed victory in 2:07:51. Ghebreslassie, 20, makes history as the youngest champion.

Kenya’s Lucas Rotich settled for second in 2:08:53 in a race where defending champion Stanley Biwott from Kenya, dropped out of the race before reaching the 15km. American Abdi Abdirahman, 39, from USA finished third in 2:11:23.

Keitany, who is the only other woman besides from Norwegian Grete Waitz to have won the race three times, edged out 2012 London Olympics and 2013 World 10,000m silver medalist Sally Kipyego to second place in 2:28:28. American Molly Huddle finished third 2:28:40.

Then Keitany would show Chepkirui her clean pair of heels as she stepped on her positions to increase her lead to 20 seconds at 24kms in 1:22:30. Keitany, the 2011 and 2012 London Marathon champion passed the 37km mark in 2:07:30 on her way to victory.

Keitany and Chepkurui’s speed was too much for Ethiopian 2009 World marathon bronze medallist Aselefech Mergia to handle in a race that generated to a three-horse battle before the 15km mark.

Mergia failed to keep up and begun to fall off Keitany and Chepkirui just after 19km where the Kenyan crossed in an incredible 1:05:08.

Eight days shy of his 21st birthday, Ghebreslassie accelerated at the halfway mark and overwhelmed his rivals to run alone over the final kilometre.

At the halfway mark, a trio pulled away from the pack — Ghebreslassie, Rotich and Ethiopian Lelisa Desisa, last year's Boston Marathon champion.

In the 32km, Ghebreslassie surged away from Rotich and Desisa, accelerating ahead to pull away from his last threats.

Rotich was second in 2:08:53 and shared a high five with his countryman, who ran back down the course to greet Rotich.

American Abdi Abdirahman, 39, was third in 2:11:23 with Japan's Hiroyuki Yamamoto fourth in his New York debut, another 26 seconds adrift.

In August at Rio, Biwott dropped out at the halfway point of the Olympic marathon, saying he was given the wrong water bottle and that caused stomach problems.

Keitany and Ghebreslassie claimed US$ 100,000 each (Sh 10m) for their exploits.</s>NEW YORK — Eritrea’s Ghirmay Ghebreslassie and Kenya’s Mary Keitany won the New York City Marathon on Sunday.

Keitany became the first woman to win three straight titles since Grete Waltz won five straight from 1982 to 1986. She pulled away around the 15th mile and finished with an unofficial time of 2 hours, 24 minutes, 26 seconds, 1 second behind her time last year.

Ghebreslassie finished his debut in New York with a time of 2:07:51.

University of Illinois graduate student Tatyana McFadden won the women’s wheelchair race to sweep the four major marathons for the fourth straight year.

The 27-year-old American finished with an unofficial time of 1:47:43. She completed the Grand Slam by winning in London, Boston, Chicago and New York, extending her record streak to 17 straight wins in major marathons.

McFadden, who won six medals at the Rio Paralympics, took the lead for good at the 15-mile mark and comfortably led the rest of the course to win for the fifth time in New York.



Clark downed in quarterfinals. Freshman Zeke Clark’s run at the Big Ten Individual Championships ended Sunday as the Illinois men’s tennis player dropped a quarterfinal decision. Clark fell to Northwestern’s Jason Seidman 6-2, 6-2.
Mary Keitany of Kenya and Ghirmay Ghebreslassie of Eritrea win the 2016 New York City marathon. It is Keitany's third victory in the event and Ghebreslassie's first.