Performance
Gallery: The 2019 New York City Marathon
A new champion and a return to the podium in Central Park
Conditions could hardly have been better for the 2019 New York City Marathon - perhaps early head winds that greeted the runners in Brooklyn were the only blemish on the report card for the day.
The women's race was a tactical battle - Des Linden making the first move around 14km in when she went to the front and picked up the pace. The pack let her go, eventually reeling her in near the halfway mark. By 25km there were only 3 contenders - Jepkosgei, Queen of NY Mary Keitany, and the highly favoured Ruti Aga.
By the time the 3 got to 30km it was down to two, Aga getting left behind in Queens. Perhaps marking a changing of the guard, the half marathon World Record holder Jepkosgei left the 37 year old Keitany behind to win her debut marathon in 2:22:38.
In a moment of pride for the Australians, Sinead Diver finished 5th in 2:26:23, with Ellie Pashley close behind in 8th position in 2:27:07.
The quietest spot on the course is the eerie Queensboro Bridge, where no spectators are allowed. When the women came off the bridge at mile 16, they were greeted by a roar from the huge NYC crowds.
Coming through Harlem, one of the busiest parts of the course thanks to We Run Uptown, it was Jepkosgei and Keitany duelling it out.
Jepkosgei closed out the race with a 5:17 mile at 25, and a 5:20 at mile 26 - nothing to be sneezed at on a tough closing section through the rolling hills of Central Park. Ruti Aga finished third.
The men's race started out as a 20 mile run followed by a short race - the main pack staying together as far as Harlem before starting to splinter around mile 21-22.
The slower pace of the men's race played perfectly for Kamworor (it should be noted Kamworor is anything but slow - he broke the half marathon world record in September), similar to the conditions he won this race in back in 2017.
Kamworor made his move around mile 23, breaking away from fellow Kenyan Albert Korir, to take the win by 23 seconds. Immediately after finishing, Kamworor went to the crowd and embraced his training partner Eliud Kipchoge.
Korir was obviously pleased to take second in a race that featured not only Kamworor but Shura Kitata and defending champion Lelisa Desisa (who dropped out around 11-12km). The biggest story however was the 3rd place finisher, Girma Bekele Gebre - he ran a 2:08:38 as an unsponsored, non-elite runner.
Aussies Brett Robinson and Jack Rayner both had tough days at the office. Rayner finishing 22nd and Robinson 23rd, Rayner admitting things got very tough in the back half of the race.
"I really started struggling before 30km. My glutes were really hurting and I just had to battle home. Nothing special today.
I'm happy the season is over and it's time to go home now, have a short break and then get back to Falls Creek and load up again. 2020 is really about the Olympics."
Jack Rayner
Boston amateur and crowd favourite Lou Serafini had a day to remember - a huge PR for him, finishing 20th in 2:16:34.
The New York City Marathon isn't just about the elites - back at Mile 21 things were just starting to heat up as the cheer zones got into their groove.
Finally, by Mile 25 it was evident who had a good day and who was just battling to keep moving forward, as the hills of New York claimed many a victim. But NYC is the world's biggest marathon for a reason, and there will be another 50,000 people lining up to take part in the 50th edition in 2020.
