CNN
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Kenya’s Sharon Rokedi was the surprise winner of Sunday’s women’s New York City Marathon, while Evans Chebet won the men’s race to complete Kenya’s double crown.
Competing over the 26.2-mile distance for the first time in her career, Rokedi pulled ahead of Israel’s Rona Kemtai Salpeter in the closing stages to finish in 2:23:23.
Salpeter finished seven seconds behind in second place, while earlier-year marathon world champion Gotytom Gebreslase of Ethiopia was third.
Marathon debutant Helen Obiri was one of the pre-race favorites, but struggled in the closing stages, falling behind the leading pack and eventually finishing sixth.
The 28-year-old Rokedy, the eighth athlete in history to win a marathon debut in New York City, looked visibly emotional after crossing the finish line in Central Park.
“I can’t say enough. I’m so excited… The course was amazing. The cheers were everything,” she told ESPN. “Just thank you.”
In the men’s race, Chebet became the first man since 2011 to win the New York City and Boston marathons in the same year, finishing in 2:08:41, beating Ethiopia’s Shula Kitata by 13 seconds. Abdi Nageeye was in his third place and he was over a minute behind.
Chebet’s victory means the Kenyan man has won all six major city marathons this year. In addition to Chebet’s title in Boston, Eliud Kipchoge won in Tokyo and Berlin, Amos Kipruto won in London, and Benson Kipruto won in Chicago.
Conditions for Sunday’s race were difficult as temperatures hovered around 23 degrees Celsius (73 degrees Fahrenheit) in New York City.
Brazilian Daniel de Nascimento led the field for most of the men’s race, but he collapsed to the floor and was seen by doctors in the final stages, handing the lead to Chebet.
Race officials later told CNN that de Nascimento was safe after dropping out of the race.
50,000 runners are expected to participate in this year’s NYC Marathon. This is the first full capacity race since the Covid-19 pandemic.
The race, which spans all five New York City boroughs, was held virtually in 2020 and with a limited number of competitors in 2021.
In the men’s wheelchair race, Marcel Hug of Switzerland won his fifth NYC Marathon title in the men’s race.
Known as the ‘Swiss silver bullet’, the 36-year-old broke the wheelchair course record by nearly four minutes, finishing in 1:25:25.
This broke the record of 1:29:22 set by Australian Kurt Fernley in 2006.
American Susanna Scaroni also set a course record in the women’s race, finishing in 1:42:43, beating Tatiana McFadden’s previous record.
