New York: Geoffrey Mutai shattered the course record in the New York City Marathon on Sunday, which was no surprise after he ran the fastest marathon ever earlier this year.
The Kenyan has turned in two eye-popping performances in seven months in races without pace-setters and figures to be the favourite at next summer's London Games — if he can make the Olympic team in a country so deep in the sport.
In the women's race, Firehiwot Dado wasn't expected to win and trailed with a few miles left. But the Ethiopian made a stunning comeback for her first major marathon title.
Mutai finished in 2 hours, 5 minutes, 6 seconds, crushing the previous mark of 2:07:43 set by Tesfaye Jifar of Ethiopia a decade earlier.
In April, Mutai ran the fastest 26.2 miles in history: 2:03:02 in Boston. It didn't count as a world record because the course is considered too straight and too downhill.
"I am happy now because even although it was not recognised, I'm happy to be at that level,|" Mutai said. "And I know one day, maybe I can come to do something. The course here — it was tough. But the weather was so good. I think I'll try to maintain myself to prove it right."
With little wind on a cool, sunny day, the conditions were perfect for fast times. The second- and third-place finishers also broke the old course record. Fellow Kenyan Emmanuel Mutai (no relation), the London Marathon champ and course-record holder, ran a 2:06:28. Tsegaye Kebede of Ethiopia was third in 2:07:14.
Defending champion Gebre Gebremariam of Ethiopia was fourth.
Dado trailed London Marathon champion Mary Keitany by nearly 2 minutes at the 15-mile mark but passed her with about a mile left. The 27-year-old Dado won in 2:23:15 — almost a minute better than her previous personal best.
"Because she'd been running so fast from the very beginning, I didn't imagine that we'd catch her," Dado said. "But when we did get closer and we saw her, I was very surprised and I was very happy."
Fellow Ethiopian Buzunesh Deba, who lives in the Bronx and enjoyed vocal support, was second for her first podium finish at a major marathon, four seconds back. It was the second-closest women's finish in the race's history.
"I'm so happy when they're cheering me," Deba said. "I know the course — I train it two times a week in Central Park."
Keitany was third, 23 seconds back. The Kenyan pulled away right from the start and was well under course-record pace for much of the race. But she faded badly over the final miles, feeling fatigue in her legs. The Ethiopians made up 32 seconds on Keitany between the 23- and 24-mile marks. When they caught her, she glanced over at them and briefly burst back ahead.
But after Dado made her move, Keitany couldn't keep up, and Deba soon passed her too.
"Maybe if I come next year and my body will react OK, maybe no problem," Keitany said. "I would run the same. I would not change."
Results
Men (Top five):
1. Geoffrey Mutai (Kenya) 2hrs 05mins 05secs
2. Emmanuel Mutai (Kenya) 2:06:28
3. Tsegaye Kebede (Ethiopia) 2:07:14
4. Gebre-egziabher Gebremariam (Ethiopia) 2:07:59
5. Jaouad Gharib (Morocco) 2:08:26
Women (Top five):
1. Firehiwot Dado Tufa (Ethiopia) 2:23:15
2. Buzunesh Deba (Ethiopia) 2:23:19
3. Mary Keitany (Kenya) 2:23:38
4. Ana Dulce Felix (Portugal) 2:25:40
5. Kimberley Smith (New Zealand) 2:25:46
