Benson Kipruto has survived a thrilling sprint finish to claim victory in the New York Marathon, winning with a time of 2 hours, 8 minutes and 9 seconds.
Kipruto ran flat out through the final 50 metres on Sunday, local time, to hold off a late fight from Alexander Mutiso, breaking the tape by less than two-tenths of a second in a photo finish.
The 2021 winner, Albert Korir, finished in third place in a time of 2:08:57.
"It was amazing. The last part was so hard," Kipruto said in a televised interview.
"I was pushing so hard to make sure I win."
It was the fourth major title for Kipruto, who was in a two-man race with Mutiso at the 25-mile mark and appeared to be completely in control with 200 metres left.
He was forced to accelerate through the final straight, however, as Mutiso launched a gutsy late attack to wild cheers in Central Park.
The race was the second elite marathon to end in a sprint finish in recent months, with Alphonce Felix Simbu claiming gold at the World Athletics Championships by just 0.003 seconds from Amanal Petro in Tokyo.
It was a good day for Kenya, which swept both the men's and women's podiums, with Hellen Obiri winning the women's race in a course-record time of 2:19:51.
Paris bronze medallist Obiri, who won in 2023, was running shoulder-to-shoulder with runner-up Sharon Lokedi (2:20:07) and enjoyed a comfortable finish after pulling away ahead of the final turn to claim her fourth major title.
Last year's winner, Sheila Chepkirui (2:20:24), was third.
"We had a very strong field," said Obiri, who pocketed an extra $US50,000 ($76,383) for breaking Margaret Okayo's 22-year-old course record of 2:22:31.
"[I told myself] let me try to do my best, let me push."
In the wheelchair division, Switzerland's Marcel Hug won a record-extending seventh title in the men's race in 1:30:16, while American Susannah Scaroni won the women's race in 1:42:10.
Kenyan two-time Olympic champion Eliud Kipchoge, the only man to break the 2-hour barrier in the marathon, finished 17th in 2:14:36.
Amid rampant speculation that New York could be his final competitive marathon, the 40-year-old Kipchoge instead announced plans to embark on a two-year mission to run seven marathons across seven continents in his "Eliud Kipchoge World Tour."
Speaking to Olympics.com before the race, Kipchoge said he had plans to run "for a purpose", including racing in Antarctica.
"November, and it's New York … It's a place that has been on my mind for a long time. It's time for me to go there and get a Seven Star [award for finishing all seven major marathons] before embarking on my new journey of running for other things," he said.
The Seven Star award is given to runners who have completed the marathons in Tokyo, Boston, London, Sydney, Berlin, Chicago and New York City.
Sydney was named a major for the first time this year.
The five-borough classic capped the World Marathon Majors calendar for the year, after a doping suspension for the women's world record holder rocked competitive distance running.
Kenyan Ruth Chepngetich was banned for three years late last month after admitting to anti-doping rule violations.
Reuters/ABC
