It was four decades back when an American woman broke the finish line at the New York City Marathon, and now the Olympic medalist Shalane Flanagan has ended the drought for the American women.
Flanagan cried and yelled as she touched the finish line. It might be the last race for the 36-year-old racer as she hinted she might retire with the first ever major victory.
Flanagan said after the victory,
It's indescribable. It's a moment I'm trying to soak up and savor.
Flanagan's unofficial time was two h 26 minutes and 53 seconds, which turned fair enough to beat the three-time champion Mary Keitany of Kenya who approached around a minute later. Miki Gorman was the last woman representing America to win the marathon in 1977.
It was her first marathon race in the New York City since her first participation in 2010 when she came second. She couldn't continue her career after she had a fracture in her lower back.
The two-time world champion Geoffrey Kamworor of Kenya won the men's race where he completed the race in 2 hours 10 minutes and 53 seconds. Kenyan Kipsand finished second in 2:10:56, and Ethiopian Lelisa Desisa was third in 2:11:32.
