Abdi Nageeye, Sheila Chepkirui earn first NYC Marathon wins - ESPN

NEW YORK — Abdi Nageeye and Sheila Chepkirui used strong kicks in the final mile to pull away from their nearest competitors and both win the New York City Marathon for the first time Sunday.

Nageeye, who became the first runner from the Netherlands to win the men's race, was step-for-step with 2022 champion Evans Chebet before using a burst of speed heading into Central Park for the final time to come away with the win in 2 hours, 7 minutes, 39 seconds. Chebet finished 6 seconds behind.

«At the finish, I was like, am I dreaming? I won New York,» Nageeye said.

He had run the New York race three times before, with his best previous finish coming in 2022, when he was third.

«I know the course,» Nageeye said. «Today was two things: survive that race, and my race is after 36 [kilometers; 22 miles]. I was thinking like a cyclist, survive 36K and you're going to win.»

Chepkirui was running New York for the first time and pulled away from defending champion Hellen Obiri in the women's race in the last stretch.

«Let me push the last mile, let me give it my best,» the Kenyan said. «When we were around 600 meters to go, I said to myself: I have to push harder. When I saw Hellen wasn't coming, I knew I was going to win and was so happy.»

Chepkirui, who started to run marathons in 2022, won in 2:24.35. Obiri finished nearly 15 seconds behind.

Obiri was looking to be the first repeat champion since Mary Keitany of Kenya won three in a row 2014-16. Vivian Cheruiyot of Kenya finished third, giving the African nation the top three spots.

Tamirat Tola, the men's defending champion and Paris Olympic gold medalist, finished fourth, right behind Albert Korir.

«I had a good year,» Tola told The Associated Press through an interpreter. «I won