(examiner) American Meb Keflezighi broke away from Kenyan marathon ace, Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot, to win the ING New York City Marathon. An American had not won the race since 1982. Keflezighi's winning time was 2:09:14, a personal best. Cheruiyot was second in 2:09:56. Jaouad Gharib of Morocco was third in 2:10:24 and American Ryan Hall was fourth in 2:10:36. A lead pack of nearly a dozen men thinned to 4 after mile 18, with Hall and fellow Americans Abdi Abdirahman and Jorge Torres falling back; Keflezhigi held on. This pack of Cheruiyot, Keflezhigi, Gharib, and Moroccan Abderrahime Bouramdane fought through mile 23, when Keflezhigi threw down a fast mile and Cheruiyot covered. For the next two miles these two men battled each other fiercely, Cheruiyot attempting to use a water stop to break away. Keflezhigi grabbed his water, but tucked it under his arm, covering the challenge from Cheruiyot before taking his fluids. With just over a mile remaining, Keflezhigi broke charged to the front and opened a large gap on Cheruiyot by the finish.

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