By Chris Lotsbom, @ChrisLotsbom
(c) 2014 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved
Used with permission

NEW YORK (02-Nov) -- It came down to the final mile to determine both the men's and women's champions here at the 44th running of the TCS New York City Marathon, as Kenyans Wilson Kipsang and Mary Keitany broke the tape with glee here in Central Park. Kipsang escaped from Ethiopian Lelisa Desisa after exchanging words in Central Park, going on to win in 2:10:55 and taking the World Marathon Majors title in the process. Keitany eclipsed compatriot Jemima Sumgong after battling both each other and strong winds for more than four miles, 2:25:07 her winning time.

WILSON KIPSANG SECURES WORLD MARATHON MAJORS TITLE WITH MEMORABLE VICTORY

After splitting halfway in 1:06:56, one could throw a blanket over the entire fifteen-person men's lead pack -- and they may have needed the added warmth. With harsh winds blowing and temperatures in the lower 40's (F), those up front covered themselves in hats, gloves, and arm warmers. No one wanted to break and face the elements alone out front, so the main group clipped through miles in Brooklyn and Queens at a pedestrian pace.

American Meb Keflezighi, the 2009 champion here and this year's Boston Marathon winner, took a turn at the front early on, as did Japan's Yuki Kawauchi. Yet many of the contenders like Kipsang, Desisa, and Ethiopia's Gebre Gebremariam remained content to tuck in. 

"The race course is really very nice, and it was very windy, but it was more tactical because you find that all through, the guys, no one was really ready to take the lead because of the strong wind," said Kipsang. "But I think that because in such a race we really tried our best to keep the time [honest], but it wasn't possible." 

In the 14th mile, it was Kipsang briefly showing his cards, taking the front duties. Slipping back into the group shortly thereafter, the leaders continuously split miles in the 5:05 range.

Despite the slow pace --which for a while indicated a 2:12:30 or higher finish time-- the pack eventually would break up. Between 35-K and 40-K, Kipsang and Desisa charged away and ultimately reached Columbus Circle alone. Re-entering Central Park, it appeared like the race would be a photo finish.

That was until Kipsang turned to his side and uttered words to Desisa, as if playing games.

"When [Desisa] came from this other side, then he brushed on my shoulder this other side. Then I was telling him what happened, and there's a lot of space," explained Kipsang. 

As if the encounter was motivation to begin his kick, Kipsang quickly sped away from his challenger to get the win. It was the slowest winning here time since German Silva ran 2:11:00 in 1995.

"I decided now to sprint because I saw the finish was very close, and the speed was very high," Kipsang said. "When I saw that Lelisa was running really close to me, I had to save energy for the closing kick."

With the win, Kipsang picked up 25 World Marathon Majors points and overtook compatriot Dennis Kimetto atop the series leaderboard. With the 2013/2014 WMM series coming to a close in New York, Kipsang wins $500,000 in addition to the $100,000 earned by winning today's race. When asked if he was thinking about the money, Kipsang said of course.

"I know the only chance I had was to win. So I was really ready. My preparation was very good," said Kipsang, who has now won marathon titles in New York, London, Berlin, Frankfurt, Otsu, and Honolulu over the course of his career.

Second went to Desisa in 2:11:06, with 2010 winner Gebre Gebremariam finishing third in 2:12:13. Desisa battled stomach issues beginning at 15 kilometers. 

"At the 15-K, I want the bathroom. My bladder is full. Maybe this is to release, the bathroom. Because of that, I thought throughout," Desisa explained, noting that he contemplated stopping. "Then after 21-K, 30K, it change to my stomach is become big, because I have no relax."

The top American was Keflezighi, fourth in 2:13:18. It was a vast improvement from a year ago, when the three-time Olympian finished 23rd in 2:23:47.

"The race, deep, strong, windy, challenging, tactical. You know, I just tried to mix it up. I knew it was going to be tactical," said Keflezighi, who ran out front for while to the cheers of many New Yorkers. "I love being in the front. You always want to get to the finish line first, but at the same time, it's just to inspire others and be up in front and give the New Yorkers something to cheer for, and I felt I've done that. 

Olympic gold medalist Stephen Kiprotich and two-time TCS New York City Marathon champion Geoffrey Mutai were fifth and sixth in 2:13:25 and 2:13:44, respectively. Americans Ryan Vail and Nick Arciniaga cracked the top ten, taking ninth and tenth in 2:15:08 and 2:15:39.

MARY KEITANY WINS BATTLE WITH SUMGONG

In her pre-race press conference, Mary Keitany said she learned a harsh lesson in 2011, when the she went out at world record pace and faded miserably in the second half. This year, the 32-year-old mother of two bided her time until the final mile, surging decisively in the last kilometer to defeat Jemima Sumgong.

"I worked hard for this opportunity," said Keitany at the post-race press conference. "I'm happy because I have a victory today."

Through halfway in 1:13:42, a group of roughly ten women were packed together, including past champions Jelena Prokopcuka, Firehiwot Dado, and Edna Kiplagat. It would stay a pack affair through 30-K, with Buzunesh Deba and Portugal's Sara Moreira finding themselves toward the front. Moreira and Morocco's Rkia El Moukim were somewhat surprisingly at the head of the field, as both were making their marathon debuts. 

Between miles 22 and 23, Keitany and Sumgong got anxious, increasing the tempo suddenly to a 5:22 clip. No one else responded with vigor, and the pair rattled a subsequent mile in 5:10. At one point, Sumgong led by around five meters. But Keitany held tough.

In Central Park, the pair batted side-by-side in a scene reminiscent of when Meb Keflezighi and Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot dueled in 2009. Running step for step, the tandem left the park, passed Columbus Circle, and re-entered the park in sync, with not a meter between them. 

With that, the women's race would be decided in the final 400 meters. With flags of the world's nations flanking them on either side and spectators cheering loud, Keitany broke from Sumgong racing up the final uphill stretch towards the finish tape. Pumping her arms just a tad bit faster than she had earlier in the race, Keitany stopped the clock in 2:25:07, 2.3 seconds up on Sumgong in the closest finish in TCS New York City Marathon history. 

"I'm happy today because it was a good day and I win," said the quiet Keitany. "So I'm happy, and I thank God for that. Thank you so much."

Sumgong crossed the line in 2:25:10, pleased to finish on the podium on such a tough day for racing. 

"In the closing miles, my target was to win, but it was Mary's day. That was my target when we were pushing with Mary," said Sumgong. "New York Marathon is different that other marathons I have attended."

Moreira was third in 2:26:00, followed by Prokopcuka (2:26:15) and American Desi Linden. In her New York City debut, Linden timed 2:28:11.

"I was pretty happy overall. Honestly, I wasn't really sure what place I was in at the end. I was like, honestly, this isn't going very well. Once I fell off that pack at 19, it got a lot more difficult," said Linden. "When I saw I was fifth, I was a lot more happy with the overall performance."

Many notable finishers placed outside of the top six. Dado, the winner in 2011, took seventh (2:28:36), local favorite Deba was ninth (2:31:40), and 2010 champion Edna Kiplagat was a distant 13th in 2:36:24.  Deba had been sick several weeks ago and had contemplated scratching from the race. 

Among the Americans, Annie Bersagel was tenth (2:33:02), Deena Kastor (41) eleventh (2:33:18), and Kara Goucher 14th (2:37:03). In tears and holding her son Colt, Goucher told ESPN that she took a gamble by going with the leaders from the get go, opting to run in a pack so that the wind wouldn't impact her early on.

"I was by myself and just really hit the wall for the first time in my career and really struggled. But I had some encouragement from people like Deena that went by," Goucher told members of the media.

Notably, tennis star Caroline Wozniacki finished the five borough race in 3:26:33.