Evans Chebet on Sunday completed a brilliant Kenyan clean sweep of the world’s major marathons with a superb victory in the New York City Marathon as compatriot Sharon Lokedi took the women’s crown in her first race over the distance.
Chebet — who also won the Boston Marathon in April — patiently waited for Brazilian front-runner Daniel do Nascimento to implode before hitting the front at the 32km mark.
The 33-year-old was in total control over the closing stages, holding off the challenge of Ethiopia’s Shura Kitata comfortably to win in a time of 2 hours, 8 minutes, 41 seconds.
Photo: AFP
Kitata trailed home in second place, 13 seconds adrift of the lead, while Abdi Nageeye of the Netherlands was third.
Chebet’s win means Kenyan runners have won all six of this year’s major marathons — the first time that has happened since the circuit expanded in 2013 with the addition of the Tokyo Marathon.
“Boston was actually harder, but it was good preparation for the win in New York,” Chebet told ESPN through an interpreter following his win.
The men’s race had seen a dramatic start with Brazil’s do Nascimento surging clear of the field early on, in what always looked like an unsustainable pace.
The 24-year-old from Sao Paulo crossed halfway in a blistering pace of 1 hour, 1 minute, 22 seconds — putting him firmly on track for a course record.
Yet although he led by more than 2 minutes at the 24km mark, he began to slow as Chebet separated himself from the chasing pack to set off in pursuit.
Do Nascimento took a portable toilet break at 29km, which cost him 18 seconds, and cracked a few kilometers later, stopping and walking before collapsing to the ground where he required treatment from paramedics.
Chebet passed the Brazilian as he lay stricken and never looked back, becoming the first man since 2011 to win the Boston and New York marathons in the same season.
As well as the sweep of the men’s races, Chebet’s victory also completed a Kenyan double in New York after debutant Lokedi, 28, took the women’s race.
Lokedi produced a superb tactical performance to win in a time of 2 hours, 23 minutes, 23 seconds.
“I’m just out of words, so happy, really excited — I just won,” Lokedi said. “I don’t even know what to say. So happy that I did it here — it’s just a great day, great race. The course was amazing, the cheers, everything, I’m just thankful.”
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