Olympic runner Shalane Flanagan ended a 40-year losing streak for American women when she ran past the finish line of the New York City Marathon at 2 hours 26 minutes 53 seconds on Sunday. The 36-year-old Massachusetts native redeemed her second-place standing in the 2010 marathon when she swiftly made her way to the top of the pack.
By finishing in first, Flanagan managed to end Mary Keitany's chances of earning her fourth consecutive NYC Marathon victory. The Kenyan runner, who clocked in at 2 hours 27 minutes 54 seconds, was hoping to break into this threshold that only a select number of marathon runners have managed to reach, most notably Grete Waitz of Norway who claimed 5 consecutive victories.
An American woman hasn't won the NYC Marathon since Miki Gorman's victory in 1976 and in 1977. Flanagan isn't a stranger to the NYC marathon top-5 contenders. Additionally, in 2008 she won the silver medal in the 2008 Olympics for distance running and has continuously been a front-runner when competing in the world's largest marathon. After Flanagan and Keitany, newcomer Mamitu Daska of Ethiopia landed herself the number three spot in her NYC Marathon debut.
Once both Flanagan and Keitany finished the race, the two runners embraced and congratulated one another on a race well run. Congratulations to all of the women who participated today.
