Martin Lel outlasted fellow Kenyan and defending champion Rodgers Rop to win the New York City men's marathon crown today as compatriot Margaret Okayo won the women's race in a course record.
Lel, the world half-marathon champion, clocked two hours, 10 minutes and 30 seconds after breaking the will of Rop in an exciting finish in Manhattan's Central Park.
Rop finished second behind Lel in 2:11:11 and with Kenyan Christopher Cheboiboch in third (2:11:23).
Okayo, the 2001 New York women's champion, finished in an official time of 2:22:31 to shave one minute 50 seconds off the previous course best she set two years ago.
Second in the women's race was former world record holder Catherine Ndereba, of Kenya, in 2:23:04, followed by the Netherlands's Lornah Kiplagat in third in 2:23:43.
The women's defending champion, Joyce Chepchumba, crossed the line in sixth place.
