Kenyan runner Paul Tergat has held off defending champion Hendrick Ramaala of South Africa in a final sprint to win the men's title at the New York City Marathon.
Tergat, the world record holder (2:04:55), edged ahead in the final few meters Sunday to win the 41-point-two kilometer race in two hours, nine minutes and 30 seconds. It is the ninth straight time an African runner has won the men's race.
Ramaala, who stumbled and fell to the ground after crossing the finish line, was just one second behind in the closest finish in the race's history. Meb Keflezighi of the United States dropped back toward the end of the race to finish third, 26 seconds off the winning pace.
Meanwhile, Jelena Prokopcuka of Latvia pulled away from struggling Kenyan runner Susan Chepkemei to win the women's race by 14 seconds. Chepkemei held on for second place despite stomach problems. Two-time Olympic 10-thousand meter champion Derartu Tulu of Ethiopia was third, 40 seconds behind the winner.