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Kenya’s Mary Keitany Wins Third Straight New York City Marathon

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Mary Keitany of Kenya crosses the finish line to win the womens field of the 2016 New York City Marathon in Central Park in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, U.S. November 6, 2016. REUTERS/Mike Segar - RTX2S6K8
Mary Keitany of Kenya crosses the finish line to win the women's field of the 2016 New York City Marathon in New York City on Nov. 6, 2016.Mike Segar—Reuters
By Mahita Gajanan

Kenya’s Mary Keitany, 34, won her third straight New York City marathon on Sunday, pulling ahead of the lead pack of runners and finishing with a time of 2:24:26.

In the men’s race, Ghirmay Ghebreslassie of Eritrea won with a time of 2:06:51. He was followed by Lucas Rotich of Kenya with 2:08:53 and Somali-born American runner Abdi Abdirahman with 2:11:23.

Keitany, whose quick pace at miles 16, 17 and 18 put her ahead in the race, became the second woman to win three marathons in a row in New York. She gained a lead at the 15-mile mark while running across the Queensboro Bridge into Manhattan.

Ghirmay Ghebreslassie, of Eritrea, second left, pulls away from Kenya's Lucas Rotich, second right, and Lelisa Desisa, of Ethiopia, far right, during the New York City Marathon, Sunday, Nov. 6, 2016, in New York. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow)
Ghirmay Ghebreslassie of Eritrea, second left, pulls away from Kenya's Lucas Rotich, second right, during the New York City Marathon on Nov. 6, 2016.Jason DeCrow—AP

Pulling in second and third place in the women’s race were Sally Kipyego of Kenya with 2:28:01 and American debut runner Molly Huddle with 2:28:13.

Fifty-thousand people ran the marathon this year, as New York celebrated the race’s 40th anniversary.

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Write to Mahita Gajanan at mahita.gajanan@time.com