Wilson Kipsang of Kenya celebrates as he hits the tape to win the men’s division of the the 44th annual New York City Marathon in New York, on, Nov. 2, 2014. Kipsang won in an unofficial time of 2 hours, 10 minutes, 59 seconds.NEW YORK – Wilson Kipsang, a former world-record holder, needed to force himself to slow down.
The Kenyan star had entered his first New York City Marathon to challenge himself on a hilly course with no pacemaker. A windy morning made for quite the test Sunday, and Kipsang proved he can win a strategic race.
“I had to really exercise a lot of patience,” he said.
Kipsang pulled away in the final mile for his third major marathon title in just over 13 months. Mary Keitany also took the lead late in the women’s race for a Kenyan sweep.
Women’s winner Mary Keitany of Kenya walks beyond the finish line wearing her country’s flag after coming in first in the 44th annual New York City Marathon in New York on Nov. 2, 2014.Kipsang’s record-setting victories in Berlin and London were on flat courses with the aid of a pacemaker, very different from Sunday, when winds were gusting at more than 30 mph at the start. The contenders adjusted by cautiously sticking to a slow pace.