Marilson wins the New York Marathon
Gomes Reclaims Title; Goumri Second Again
Brazilian star reprises 2006 victory
Three men in this year's ING New York City Marathon field had won the race before, but the favorite was a man known for finishing second and third: Abderrahim Goumri of Morocco, the runner-up here last year. After at least eight other men had taken turns pushing the pace, Goumri made his own move at 19 miles; when his last challenger fell back three miles later, Goumri seemed assured of his first major-marathon victory. But marathons are very unpredictable things.
The race had opened strangely, with a contingent of Americans taking a lead over the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge into a substantial headwind. James Carney, Josh Rohatinsky, Nate Jenkins, and Abdi Abdirahman seemed to be illustrating the resurgence of American distance running, but when the inevitable pack of international marathon stars bridged the gap at four miles, only Abdirahman stayed at the front.
Hendrick Ramaala of South Africa, the 2004 champion here, made a trademark surge at five miles; Abdi countered with a break that lasted a mile. Kenyan 2:06 men Abel Kirui and Daniel Rono took turns at the front; next up was Morocco’s Abderrahime Bouramdane, second in Boston this year. On First Avenue in Manhattan, with the pack still 13 strong, 2006 champion Marilson Gomes dos Santos of Brazil slipped into the lead; he looked the smoothest of anyone except 2005 champion Paul Tergat of Kenya, who, like Goumri, had never led—just easily, ominously covered every move. More
