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Subscribe to RSSAccording to the Associated Press, Geoffrey 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.
The 30-year-old has established himself as the favorite at next summer's Olympics after two landmark performances this year.
In April, he 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. Read more...
Craig Ruttle / AP
Geoffrey Mutai, of Kenya, runs along 5th Avenue in the Manhattan borough of New York on his way to winning with a course record in the men's division at the New York City Marathon on Nov. 6.
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.
Justin Lane / EPA
Firehiwot Dado of Ethiopia celebrates after she won the 2011 New York City marathon.
The marathon's official web site says that the first-ever New York City Marathon was a humble affair. In 1970, 127 runners paid the $1 entry fee to NYRR to participate in a 26.2-mile race that looped several times within Central Park. Fifty-five runners crossed the finish line. In 2010, there were more than 47,000 finishers, the most ever.
Several men's and women's records fell in the early years, but the New York race was soon about more than speed. When international sanctions against South African athletes were lifted in 1992, Willie Mtolo chose to run New York. He bested the field and garnered media coverage around the world. When Tegla Loroupe broke the tape at the Central Park finish in 1994, her win proved that African women were on par with the African men in their ability to run the 26.2-mile distance. She did it in New York, and the world took notice. Soon Kenyan women were invited to other major distance races.
Chris Trotman / Getty Images
Runners cross the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge towards Brooklyn at the start of the ING New York City Marathon as seen from the air on Nov. 6.
In 2000, NYRR added an official wheelchair division to the marathon. Now the ING New York City Marathon has grown to become one of the most competitive wheelchair marathons anywhere in the world, with more than 200 wheelchair and handcycle athletes. In addition, a wide variety of ambulatory athletes with disabilities participate.
Jason DeCrow / AP
A wheelchair racer crosses the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge at the start of the New York City Marathon, Nov. 6.
Masazumi Soejima of Japan won this year's men's wheelchair division with a time of 01:31:41, and Amanda McGrory of the US won the women's wheelchair division in 01:50:25.
Timothy A. Clary / AFP - Getty Images
Runners as they make their way up 1st Avenue in Manhattan during the 2011 ING New York City Marathon Nov. 6. The 26.2 mile marathon course is through the five bouroughs of New York City and is one of the largest in the world.
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These Black Africans winning these races must have "you know who," furious, and, too boot, a Japanese winning the wheelchair division.
That is probably the dumbest thing i have heard in a long time, thats like saying the Klitsko's own the heavy weight title must be making you know who furios.
Are you referring to me? I'm at a loss for "you know who", so I'm taking it personally. So, who? I don't know.
And, reported for no value. Please try again moshuluu, and next time try actually saying something that makes sense.
"Shatters". I have an issue with the use of this word, as "crushes" as original reported by NBC sports.
Did Mutai beat the previous record? Unquestionably. However in terms of mph, he was only 2.11% faster. 12.58mph, compared to 12.32mph of the previous record.
Shatter and crush have very strong connotations. I wouldn't consider something being 2.11% better to be crushing its competitor. The title is pure bait for what is undoubtedly an excellent achievement, but misrepresented by reporters by editorializing the headline.
RobG82, it's obvious that you're not a runner, much less a marathoner
Shatters. Trust us.
2 minutes in a marathon is a LONG time when people win by seconds or less than half a minute. this guy beat it over 2 minutes.
LOL...Very ignorant comment. When you are running 4:45 miles the two minutes and 37 seconds he beat him by means the former record holder still had over a half mile to go when he was crossing the finish line. A crush or a shatter in anyone's book.
RobG2
I am going out on a limb here and say you have never competed at a world level, or against a clock. If you have, then you would know that by winning and beating the clock by 2.30+ minutes is in hero territory.
He was running against the "Best" the world has to offer as well as the world record... and beat both by minutes and miles!
Shatter is more than appropreiat. Think that the average runner is doing good to run a marathon in under 4 hours.
Historically speaking, the first marathoner died after completing the distance:
The modern Athens Marathon commemorates the run of the soldier Pheidippides from a battlefield at the site of the town of Marathon, Greece, to Athens in 490 B.C.
RobG82: I assume you have never run a marathon? The difference between 12.32 mph and 12.58 mph for 26.2 miles may be statistically small if you are driving a car or even riding a bike, but for a runner, it is huge. On average, he ran 26.2 4:28+ minute miles. It hasn't been that long ago that the 4:00 minute mile record was broken (well maybe a while, but I am old).
3:59.4
Roger Bannister
United Kingdom
6 May 1954[5]
Oxford
Salty,
Better check your math. It'll be a few more centuries before anyone does sub 4:30 miles in the marathon.
So true samspayed, I stopped running years ago but I still recall how even the smallest edge that the competition had on you in a race could make all the difference in the world and to be able to sustain that pace for 26 miles is saying a whole lot about that runner's ability. Hats off to the winner for a job well done. I miss the excitement of a good race and hope to return to the sport next year once I am able to drop some weight and get back in to shape.
How in the hell can his time not count as a world record because the course is too straight and downhill? It's still 26.2 miles no matter how you look at it. Hasn't it been the same amount of miles for every other Boston Marathon that came and went? Or is it because he's black and that he smashed the @!$%# out of all the other records previously set? Hmm...? I wonder.
Boston doesn't qualify for world records because it is a downhill course. Every runner knows that before they run the race. The pending World Record awaiting ratification by the IAAF is 2:03:38 set 09-25-11 in Berlin by Patrick Makau a..............wait for it..............Kenyan! The previous world record of 2:03:59 was held by Haile Gebrselassie an Ethiopian also set in Berlin. So much for your race card....LOL
With regards to the photos in the story: Unless you are a world-class runner with a chance of winning the race, you could throw your damn water cup into a trash can.
pk - there are volunteers out there clearing the cups....any running event that is officially organized will always have people clearing the cups left behind....after the last runners come through it's usually only a couple of hours before everything is clean and you can't tell that an event ever happened.
even little 5k races have people signing up to help clear everything....there's so many people , it's a madhouse - as a runner I can tell you that the volunteers are greatly appreciated by the athletes...
Try running for that long and aiming a flimsy cup into a waste basket while dodging other runners and trying not to slip on the wet road. If you're already dehydrated, your brain is not thinking quite clearly and your body and coordination is off. Try running a marathon and you'll see how hard it is to get the damn paper cups in the trash can.
Hahahahahahhaha.......45,000 people lining up while running 4:45 pace and up then hitting the trash can at every water stop. The comments here are truly hilarious!
Are their abilities Nurture or Nature? Are they a product of their environment or just genetically predisposed to be great runners or just plain both?
What u must understand that kenyan and ethiopian runners constantly do their training on high altitude. Running in thinner air makes their lungs and bodies very efficient to utilise the thin air. So when they come and run in here at sea level it gives their bodies that extra boost. And no one stops american runners to go and train for years at the rockies. Which would equal. regards.
Where they grow up they ain't at the top of the food chain ! Either quick or dead ! :-)
ted, untoryodi:
Since I won't be fired from any job for my opinion, I'm free to say it's GENETICS, not environment that mainly accounts for the superiority and domination of Ethiopians and Kenyans in running and marathon events.
Years ago "Jimmy-The-Greek" was fired as a sports announcer because he observed and stated that Blacks were better athletes than Whites because Black athletes had bigger and stronger thigh muscles and were generally bigger and stronger than White athletesl That's a summary of his quote that got him fired in 1988.
Let's give credit where credit is due. Ethiopians and Kenyans are genetically gifted with bodies that are adapted for running and physical endurance. This is why they excel in the events they win year after year. Their domination isn't due to an altitude "boost" at the finish line.
These individuals run about their business daily, every day, rain or shine. Running all day isn't training for these athletes. It's a way of life that comes naturally to those who excel in these competitions - because they are born to run. Altitude trainng is icing on the cake.
Have we ever seen a short fat Kenyan or Ethiopian win marathons?
Genetics have a lot to do with it but some Kenyans and Ethiopians run 20 miles through the hills every day just to go to school. That's why I get a good laugh every time I see Libs claiming people in the US are obese because they don't have healthy food or a gym in their neighborhood.
Libs are usually not morbidly fat. They are too busy trying to save the planet earth. Only reps. and lost souls are fat....they feel they can have it all and eat it all with no consequences or care.
...because all they have to do is run 20 miles to school each day and the obesity problem is solved?
...because Ethiopian runners eat Cheetos and McDonald's and candy and other alternatives to fresh, healthy food and their running habits are the difference between thin and fat?
I don't get your point. Two different cultures. Two different ways of life. A million reasons why not having access to healthy food is a problem for millions of inner-city people in the US. I doubt you're suggesting poor people take time out each day from survival to run 20 miles...so what then?
As in everything, it is both genetics and hard work. All of the top atheletes have anatomy and physiology uniquely suited to their sport, or they wouldn't be the best. Of course they wouldn't be the best without the extraordinary hard work either.
The nilotic peoples of Ethiopia and Kenya do tend to have the long legs and such that serve them well at long-distance running, but they also have the high-altitude exercise regimes too. Having the right genes for a particular activity doesn't make someone "superior" or "inferior" in any bigoted sense, it just means everyone's a little different.
Sorry Andrew but plenty of busy Americans take time to get off their ass and run or exercise each and every day without going to a gym. Sorry to see you are among those who just make up excuses whilst sitting on the couch thumbing your remote and stuffing face with potato chips. 45,000 people ran this marathon....most of them are Americans. If poor Kenyans can manage it you can too. Get off your butt and join them. I started running 30 years ago. All three of my kids do too. Funny how that happens.
Jessix. If americans run like u describe the kenyans do they would also be good at marathons. Genetics have nothing to do with it. And i really dont get the your Jimmy the greek Comment. Are u a racist maybe.
Whoa, What? Sorry that you decided to ruin a good run of comments with that post.
Busy is different from repressive poverty. The people you're talking about are trying to survive...and you're talking about finding time to go for a run. What an ignorant and frankly ugly attitude you bring to the table.
I can only imagine you assume that about me because the premise of your comment and the arguments you apparently want to back them up with are so weak. I suspected as much, and maybe I should give you some kind of backhanded credit for realizing you can't back it up without being a jerk, which you don't want to be. I ran ultra marathons until two years ago when I sold my business to go back to school. Now that I've graduated I'm back to running again with hopes of running the Western States 100. I'm sorry you decided to take your argument into the proverbial gutter, but I hope this will serve as some kind of lesson to you.
I actually don't believe you. I've been running since I was 7 when I ran my first 10K, and I've literally never met a runner with such a bad attitude as yours. I'm 45, which means I've been running for 38 years. The bad attitude evident in your post, in my experience, is something that simply doesn't exist among runners...or if it does exist, I've pulled off some miraculous feat because I've literally never seen it...until now...which is why I doubt what you claim.
I don't get it. I read a few of your previous comments on this thread and thought you were reasonable....then bam - you go all in with crazy talk about how the poor people need to just get off the couch and go for a run, which by the way ignores the fact that there is no differences in obesity among different economic groups, with the exception of the wealthy who tend to not be obese
That comment is so petty. Its close to being insulting and degrading to all those who actually get out of their comfort zone and try.
Fact is, most runner have the opportunity and take advantage of training in high altitudes. In the US, much training takes place in Colorado to acclimate runners, skiers to to thin air. There is no advantage that African runner have that any other dedicated, profession runner can't avail him/her self of the same type of environemnt, if they wanted.
Matter of fact, many Indians - living in the Andes mountains of Peru, Chile are born, work and live in even higher altitudes.
The point is not so much just genetics - it has to do with will and desire. Any world class marathoner, on any given day could have metal laps that will cause them to fail... and often does.
Each runner in every race deserves the opportunity to run their best race, not just the professionals. Runners must hydrate during a marathon. You pick up up a cup, and drink while running, not a very natural act for most of us, then drop the cup when you finish, which isn't always near a trash receptacle. Volunteers don't mind picking up the cups, many are runners too.
They have "fun run" almost every weekend. Seems a perfect place for amateurs to get an ego boost. As they say - it's not whether you win or lose its enough that you got a chance to play.
I guess thats why Streakers used to run across the field, they were too jealous to let anyone have a moment in the Sun without them stealing a little attention.
Each runner in every race deserves the opportunity to run their best race, not just the professionals. Runners must hydrate during a marathon. You pick up up a cup, and drink while running, not a very natural act for most of us, then drop the cup when you finish, which isn't always near a trash receptacle. Volunteers don't mind picking up the cups, many are runners too.
I know you want world class competition but are there no Americans that can compete? Maybe some Running shoe company should sponsor some American runners. I'm tired of marathons where there is no one to root for besides someone that finishes 15th.
Why must there be no one to root for just because no American finishes higher than 15th? What would you know about a world-class American marathoner other than where he happened to be born? Unless they're racing to represent their country, as in the Olympics, I don't care where they're from.
Well I do care. It's more enjoyable to watch a sport if you can identify with the participants. If the event sponsors want to start earning media dollars and attract viewers like me they have to give me what I want. And I represent the majority. You represent, an overly vocal ultra-liberal subset that thinks you're better than everyone else. You're hinting at the race card here and that's a worn out shoe. I feel the same way about MLB players that can't be interviewed because they won't learn the language of the country they are living and working in.
It should be enough to see a person, any person - push the envelop enough to do what so many of us could do, but don't or won't.
Beethoven wasn't American, but we think if his music as classic and go to concerts to get a touch of the magnificence for a night. Michelangelo wasn't American - yet we appreciate his art, his genius... still to this day.
What is wrong with you?
Your comments sound like American Baseball as it was played at the professional level until 1945 (there was an experiment in 1916, but we all know how that ended).
i do not enjoy running marathons. why? because i enjoy eating fast food like KFC (original recipe of course!) or big mac or whopper. who wants to run after eating a delicious meal? not me. and these fools running around are wasting their lives. we will all die one day. enjoy your life while you're alive!
MSNBC.com is not showing the full picture. If you pan out, there is a guy on a motorcycle in front of the Kenyans dangling a sandwich.
As a volunteer at today's race, my congratulations to everybody who participated in the race. I watched the eventual winners pass through Central Park, and hours later watched masses of runners still passing through Harlem. And the crowds were still there urging them on. Special kudos to the wheelchair athletes and the gentleman running on two prosthetic legs. I never ceased to be amazed at what the human spirit can do.
Now that is closer to the real nature of sports... Big "atta-boy" for you.
Wait till Obama loses the election ! Talk about a record !
record ? He will win again for sure. Look at his competition.....there is no competition.
Ryan C, We're talking marathons, running, competitions, etc.; NOT POLITICS! Go elsewhere if you want to talk about Obama.
Congratulations Geoffrey Mutai!
Don't let some of the above comments make you think many Americans don't think your accomplishment is great!
Many of us do.
Who cares? A true NYC Marathon would be registered citizens of the US only, not foreigners coming over here and taking a good time away from the local people. This race is a sham and I won't run in it again.
bye...bye....another white guy bites the dust.....just kidding.
iooh What exactly is your point. are u zealous because a foreigner won. Maybe u should train harder and eat less big macs.
These Kenyans start training as children. They run to and from school (sometimes a few miles each way) and everyplace else they go. They train hard and eat right and dedicate their lives to running. Their hearts are bigger and it pumps more efficiently and oxygenates the red blood cells faster than most. As far as I know, the NYC marathon is an open invitation as are marathons all over the globe are.
Alumette, how do you know he's a white guy? Why the racist statement? I don't get it.
These guys run like the wind....who can beat 2 hours 5 minutes for the NYC marathon ? It is not for US citizens only.....they are legit and they are amazing. The best man won.....sorry to the US sour grapes.....
Wasn't it an Hispanic runner who dominated the Boston Marathon for multiple times a few years back? My question to you ... how much or "your" money is being used to hold the NYC marathon, Boston Marathon... or any of the others?
Sounds like one of those characters they ridicule on South Park: "They'er taking our Jobs". Has slipped out of the cartoons into real life.
No jokes here. Some people are met to run long distances and the rest of us...well, not so much. We need to be gracious and respectful towards the unique individuals who can muster such an event. Let us cheer with them as we appreciate their gift. Everyone has a different gift. It does not put the losers down....at all. At least, you tried....that's pretty great in itself. There are no losers in a marathon, only winners. The spirit of competition is great and we simply need to embrace it and respect it. We all will be better for it. Get it ?
2 minutes is only a small amount of time if you're driving. Running, is a different story.
Unless you're Kenyan, you have no chance of winning the marathon. Everyone should know that by now.
*shrugs*
Folks said the same thing when Jim Thorpe was taking all the olympic medals a few decades ago.