Half Marathon World Record Holders Victorious in 2019 New York City Marathon

By Adam Kopet

Geoffrey Kamworor and Joyciline Jepkosgei were crowned champions of the TCS new York City Marathon Sunday. It was victory for the pair of half marathon world record holders from Kenya.

RESULTS

Kamworor was no stranger to crossing the finish line first in Central Park. He won the race previously in 2017. However, a third place finish last year left him wanting to return to the winner's circle.

He did just that as he pulled away from the lead group just before entering Central Park for the first time in the 24th mile. He left behind Albert Korir of Kenya and the Ethiopian duo of Girma Bekele Gebre and Tamirat Tola. Kamworor pushed toward the finish, crossing the finish line in 2:08:13.

Korir finished second in 2:08:36. Gebre, who was not part of the elite field, finished third in 2:08:38. He finished 19th in New York City last year, running 2:18:18.

Jared Ward dropped from the lead pack just before the race entered the Bronx in the 20th mile. He would go on to finish sixth overall as the top American in 2:10:45. He missed a top-five finish by six seconds.

Also finishing in the top-10 for the U.S. were Abdi Abdirahman and Connor McMillan. Abdirahman, at the age of 42, finished ninth in 2:11:34, breaking the American masters record previously held by Bernard Lagat. McMillan finished 10th in 2:12:07.

The women's race saw a duel between the four-time New York City Marathon winner Mary Keitany and Jepkosgei in the final miles. However, the lead women's pack had also included Ethiopia's Ruti Aga until the 21st mile when Keitany and Jepkosgei pulled away.

Keitany showed signs of struggle at various points, including a fluid station where it appeared she had trouble keeping her drink down. Despite that, she could not be discounted.

Eventually, however, it was the debutante in Jepkosgei who would pull away for the win. She began to drop Keitany as she reached the northwest corner of Central Park on 5th Avenue. It was a lead that would grow to nearly a minute by the finish.

Jepkosgei crossed the line first in 2:22:38, seven seconds off the course record. It was the first time a woman won the New York City Marathon in her debut since 1994. Keitany crossed the line second in 2:23:32. It was her sixth-straight podium finish in New York. Aga finished third in 2:25:51.

Des Linden finished as the top-American in sixth overall, running 2:26:46. She had been running in fourth place through 22 miles, but she faded in over the final four miles, getting passed by Kenya's Nancy Kiprop and Australia's Sinead Diver.

Finishing just behind Linden was Kellyn Taylor, running 2:26:52 for seventh. Her teammate, Aliphine Tuliamuk, did not finish in the top-10, but she did break 2:30, running 2:28:12.

There were at least three athletes in the New York City Marathon elite fields who previously raced a marathon already this fall. Ethiopia's Lelisa Desisa, last year's champion, won the IAAF World Outdoor Championships marathon last month. He dropped out of the race after seven miles.

Sara Hall, who ran the Berlin Marathon in September, struggled with a stomach illness this weekend. She dropped out after 18 miles.

Very bummed to not be able to finish today at @nycmarathon Committed to my plan as long as I could, but had some stomach illness yesterday and today that left me feeling too weak & wobbly to keep going.

Thank you to everyone who came out to support,your cheers helped so much!

— Sara Hall (@SaraHall3) November 3, 2019