NEW YORK - Geoffrey Mutai likes his chances in any championship-style marathon.
The Kenyan has turned in two eye-popping performances in seven months in races without pace-setters after he shattered the course record in the New York City Marathon on Sunday. He figures to be the favorite at next summer's London Games - if he can make the Olympic team in a country so deep in the sport.
Mutai's performance was no surprise after he ran the fastest marathon ever earlier this year. Firehiwot Dado wasn't a favorite coming into the women's race and victory seemed impossible with even a few miles left. But the Ethiopian made a stunning comeback for her first major marathon title.
Mutai finished in 2 hours, 5 minutes, 6 seconds, crushing the previous mark of 2:07:43 set by Tesfaye Jifar of Ethiopia a decade earlier.
In April, Mutai ran the fastest 26.2 miles in history: 2:03:02 in Boston. It didn't count as a world record because the course is considered too straight and too downhill.
"I am happy now because even although it was not recognized, I'm happy to be at that level," Mutai said. "And I know one day, maybe I can come to do something. The course here - it was tough. But the weather was so good. I think I'll try to maintain myself to prove it right."
With little wind on a cool, sunny day, the conditions were perfect for fast times. The second- and third-place finishers also broke the old course record. Fellow Kenyan Emmanuel Mutai (no relation), the London Marathon champ and course-record holder, ran a 2:06:28. Tsegaye Kebede of Ethiopia was third in 2:07:14.
Defending champ Gebre Gebremariam of Ethiopia was fourth.