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NEW YORK – Defending champion Shalane Flanagan had her third podium finish in as many marathon races in New York with a 2:26:22 race Sunday for third place. Flanagan ended four decades of drought for the Americans at the 2017 New York Marathon, taking the lead with a time of 2:26:53. Flanagan's time in 2017 was fast enough to beat Kenya champion Mary Keitany, three-time world champion, and become the first American to win the Miki Gorman victory in 1977.
Keitany picked up the title on Sunday, finishing in 2:22:48 for his fourth victory at the New York Marathon. Keitany finished second fastest in the women's marathon history in New York, just 17 seconds off Margaret Okayo's career record of 2:22:31 and 50 seconds better than her personal best.
"I can say that the recording of the course was not in my mind," said Keitany. "I really wanted to run very, very fast. When I followed the course alone, I was hoping to do it alone, but I just thought, "OK, just let me try to win."
Last year, after being sidelined in the second half, Flanagan took Keitany to the 24-mile mark.
"I went ahead and they caught me 24 miles away. So today, I was thinking of trying to win, not on the course route, "she continued. "But I found I missed 17 seconds to break the course record. It's okay, for me, winning was really good. "
Flanagan's third place was historic, making the Massachusetts native the first American to climb the podium twice in a row since Kim Jones in 1989 and 1990 with a second consecutive place. Achieving this feat in what could be Flanagan's last competitive race in New York was satisfying enough for the veteran runner.
"When I finally came in third place, I had another level of excitement. I felt really proud of myself at that moment when I kept fighting, even though there were tough times inside, "Flanagan said. "I'm just overwhelmed by the emotions in this stretch like everyone else. I think that over 50,000 runners feel overwhelmed here.
Flanagan averaged 26.2 meters on a pace of 5:35 after a solid second half. The pack followed a steady pace of 5.24 over the first 13 miles, before the women reached a pace of 5.15 to 14 km to accelerate the second half of Sunday's marathon. The leading pack has been reduced to three East Africans, led by Keitany, 2016 New York Marathon Champion and 2017 finalist. Flanagan has fallen behind the breakaways but remains alongside fellow Americans Molly Huddle and Desiree Linden.
Linden fell behind when Flanagan and Huddle took the lead in the 19-mile marker as the first American woman to cross at 1:46:44 and 1:46:51 respectively. Flanagan's distance in 5:15 was still 20 seconds shorter than Keitany's in 4:55 (Keitany finished at an average pace of 5:27 after traveling the last 10.2 miles at a speed below five. minutes).
The 37-year-old woman placed fourth with a 5:26 mile 20, which allowed her to finish in 2:26, while Flanagan won the title in 2017. She climbed onto the podium after defeating the Ethiopian. Rahma Tusa on the 25th mile. Keitany and Vivian Cheruiyot, London Marathon champion in 2018, won the first two places on Sunday, while Tusa was in the top five. Huddle finished fourth with a time of 2:26:44.
"It was a quick day out there," said Huddle. "It was just a good marathon experience for me and a strong race."
Flanagan, a four-time Olympian, returned to New York City in 2018 to defend her title after a disappointing finish at the April Boston Marathon. It's in New York that she made her marathon debut in 2010, while she was finishing second. That was the highest performance for an American in the race in 20 years, beaten only when she won in 2017.
She finished sixth among the Americans and seventh overall with a time of 2:46:31 in Boston. The freezing cold cost Marblehead, Massachusetts, the memorable arrival she was looking for in her home country, but despite the disappointment, Flanagan told reporters after the race that she still thought it was her last marathon. Boston.
"I do not know what's next, but I think it was my last Boston marathon," Flanagan told reporters after the race. "I think that's all. This course is really difficult. The conditions are really difficult. And I'm not opposed to difficult things, but I think I'm good with Boston. I believe that's all. "
The race was won by Flanagan Olympic teammate Des Linden, who became the first American woman to win the Boston marathon in 33 years. Linden also ran New York City on Sunday, finishing sixth in 2:27:51.
"I think I've probably waited a bit too long to start the process," Linden said Sunday. "Honestly, I thought I ran the second half very well. I had every reason to turn around and get out of it, but I kept my foot on the gas all day and I was able to catch two people. I came back with 1:12, which is one of my best half marathons on the outside, so overall, it was really solid. "
Keitany ran the second half in 66 minutes.
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"She will be one of the greatest marathoners of our generation," said Flanagan. "Her consistency at a very high level – she rarely has a day off. The way she can run and crush a competition in the last half of a race is amazing. She is a rare athlete and deserves to be celebrated. "
After winning in New York last year, Flanagan thought Boston would be the last marathon she ran. She did not know then that she would face Keitany again for first place in New York this year. But after Flanagan left Boston unsatisfied with her performance, she decided to return to New York City for what it could have been her last hurray.
"He [Peter Ciaccio, New York Road Runners President] I felt compelled to come back, "said Flanagan after his podium on Sunday.
The perfectly sunny day at 53 degrees presented much more promising weather conditions for Flanagan. "It was the opposite of Boston with regard to weather conditions. It was one of those really nice days when Mary [Keitany] it's approached the course record and a lot of women ran fast, "Huddle said.
The weather has prepared for impressive finishes. Flanagan was pleased with her place on the podium and moved when she crossed the finish line saying "I love you" to the fans who cheered her in the heart of Central Park.
"The runner community is an amazing group of people around the world and in New York," said Flanagan. "I enjoy so much being here today. I felt so much love on the course that I could not have dreamed of a better day. "
After what was probably her last race in New York, Flanagan expressed only satisfaction for her performances in the city and seemed happy with what was likely to happen in the near future.
"I think I'll take a few hours after the race to decompress and really evaluate [won’t be] too early to make a decision, but I feel that my heart tends to serve others [with] the knowledge that I have acquired, "she said later. "It's more in this direction than in [toward] my own race. Although I had a lot of fun with my own race, I feel like I'm getting closer to the time needed to serve others. "
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