Rio snub becomes marathon motivation for winner Keitany

Record ID: 79959

  • Title: Rio snub becomes marathon motivation for winner Keitany
  • Date: 7th November 2016
  • Summary: NEW YORK, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (NOVEMBER 7, 2016) (REUTERS) VARIOUS WOMEN'S WINNER MARY KEITANY (KEN) SPEAKING WITH YOUNG RUNNERS CHAMPIONS (SOUNDBITE) (English) 2016 NEW YORK MARATHON WINNER MARY KEITANY SAYING: "Yeah, after when I was not being selected, because when I was in Kenya I was in [inaudible], but I said okay, let me just prepare myself well to go and defend my title well. And, that's why I did it, because I had enough time to prepare myself for this TCS Marathon and I did it. So, it was lovely to me and I appreciate my family for supporting me during training and also having enough time to recover after the training." MORE OF KEITANY SPEAKING TO YOUNG RUNNERS (SOUNDBITE) (English) 2016 NEW YORK MARATHON WINNER MARY KEITANY SAYING: "Wow, it was really amazing after when I crossed the line my kids were just watching me all the way and also my husband being in New York for the first time and my family, so it was really amazing to me and, also, my country celebrated me. My president and deputy president was also yesterday celebrating me, was lovely." YOUTH RUNNER LISTENING TO KEITANY (SOUNDBITE) (English) 2016 NEW YORK MARATHON WINNER MARY KEITANY SAYING: "Yeah, that's what I'm dreaming for next time that maybe to come here again and try my best to chase for the fourth time and fifth real win." KEITANY HOLDING WINNERS MEDAL (SOUNDBITE) (English) 2016 NEW YORK MARATHON WINNER GHIRMAY GHEBRESLASSIE "Not only to be the youngest, but even from Eritrea no one has ever been a winner of a major marathon in the world, so to be a champion like yesterday in the New York Marathon, one of the major marathons, is something proud for me." NEW YORK MARATHON SIGN (SOUNDBITE) (English) 2016 NEW YORK MARATHON WINNER GHIRMAY GHEBRESLASSIE "My next run is for the London Marathon. I prepare for that starting two weeks later -- I'll prepare for that. Then, there will be World Champion later on. After these two marathons, if I stay healthy like now, come back again here to New York and show something special better than yesterday." WINNERS OF NEW YORK MARATHON POSING FOR PHOTOGRAPHS
  • Embargoed: 22nd November 2016 19:14
  • Keywords: marathon New York Mary Keitany Ghirmay Ghebreslassie
  • Location: NEW YORK, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES
  • City: NEW YORK, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Marathon,Sport
  • Reuters ID: LVA00157G61BZ
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Two months after not participating in the Rio Olympics, three-time New York Marathon winner Mary Keitany used the snub to as motivation towards her victory on Sunday.
    Keitany became the first woman in three decades to win three consecutive New York marathons with a runaway performance.
    The 34-year-old took the lead by the ninth mile, made a major move by the 15th mile and won by more than three minutes in 2:24:26.
    "After when I was not being selected. . . I said okay, let me just prepare myself well to go and defend my title well," she told Reuters on Monday (November 7).
    "It was lovely to me and I appreciate my family for supporting me during training and also having enough time to recover after the training," said Keitany who was welcomed by her husband and children at the finish line.
    "It was really amazing after when I crossed the line my kids were just watching me all the way and also my husband being in New York for the first time and my family, so it was really amazing to me and, also, my country celebrated me. My president and deputy president was also yesterday celebrating me, was lovely."
    In the men's professional race, world champion Ghirmay Ghebreslassie dominated the field. The 20-year-old crossed the finish line alone in two hours, seven minutes and 51 seconds, more than a minute ahead of Kenyan Lucas Rotich.
    "Not only to be the youngest, but even from Eritrea no one has ever been a winner of a major marathon in the world, so to be a champion like yesterday in the New York Marathon, one of the major marathons, is something proud for me," said Ghebreslassie.
    Ghebreslassie's victory ended a string of four victories in a row by Kenyan men in the race and denied the African nation a fourth consecutive sweep of New York men's and women's titles.
    He spent Sunday evening with the Eritrean community in New York who celebrated his win with a feast.
    Both Ghebreslassie and Keitany look forward to defending their titles in the 2017 edition of the race.
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