Abdi Nageeye, Sheila Chepkirui win New York City Marathon titles

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 two hours, seven minutes and 39 seconds. Chebet finished six seconds behind.

"At the finish I was like, am I'm dreaming? I won New York," Nageeye said.

He had run the New York race three times before with his best 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 [kilometres]. I was thinking like a cyclist, survive 36K and you're going to win."

Rory Linkletter set a new fastest time for Canadian men in the event, finishing the race in 2:11:42.

“I wanted to prove to myself that I belonged, and could run a hard marathon course.”<br><br>Rory Linkletter