Athletics: Tergat wins NYC marathon

NEW YORK - World record holder Paul Tergat pushed ahead in the final few metres to defeat defending champion Hendrick Ramaala of South Africa in a thrilling finish to the New York City Marathon today.

The Kenyan five times world cross country champion and Ramaala ran side by side over the last 100m in Central Park, trading the lead in a sprint to the finish which the Kenyan narrowly won as Ramaala collapsed just behind him after crossing the line.

Tergat, competing in his first New York Marathon, clocked two hours nine minutes 30 seconds with Ramaala one second behind in the closest finish in the 36-year history of the race.

Third place went to 2004 runner-up and Olympic silver medallist Meb Keflezighi of the United States in 2hr 9min 50sec.

Jelena Prokopcuka of Latvia won the women's marathon by overtaking Susan Chepkemei in the closing stages.

Prokopcuka won going away in a time of 2hr 24min 41sec, 14sec ahead of Kenya's Chepkemei who was also runner-up last year just three seconds behind Briton Paula Radcliffe.

Twice Olympic 10,000 metres champion Derartu Tulu of Ethiopia finished third in 2hr 25min 21sec.

- REUTERS