Chilean miner completes another battle

Rescued Chilean miner Edison Pena, who jogged the tunnels while trapped underground, has completed the New York Marathon.

He wore his trademark sunglasses during the race, just as he had when he emerged into the glare of the sunlight from the depths of the Copiapo mine last month.

Finishing in an unofficial time of five hours and forty minutes, Pena crossed the finish line draped in a Chilean flag, his left knee strapped up and iced after an injury stop near the halfway point.

The crowd gave a huge cheer and Elvis music boomed out from nearby speakers. Pena is a big fan of the King - he sang Elvis numbers to himself during his runs through the mine, and broke into an impromptu version of Suspicious Minds when he was a guest on Friday's Late Show with David Letterman.

Pena and 32 other miners were trapped underground for 69 days before being rescued in one of the year's most watched news events.

New Ethiopian star Gebre Gebremariam won the men's title on his marathon debut. Kenya's Edna Kiplagat was another surprise winner in the women's race.

New Zealander Kimberley Smith finished fifth in the women's event.

World-record holder Haile Gebrselassie announced his retirement after dropping out of the marathon at the 16 mile mark with a right knee injury.

- NZHERALD STAFF