Two Kenyan Runners Win New York Marathon in Men's and Women's Categories - 2003-11-03

In the New York City Marathon held on Sunday, two runners from the African country of Kenya won in the men's and women's categories. In the men's section, Martin Lel won in an exciting finish in Central Park, Manhattan, ahead of Rogers Rop, who was also Kenyan and the defending champion of the New York Marathon. Lel completed the 42.2-kilometer course in 2 hours, 10 minutes, and 30 seconds. Rogers Rop finished 40 seconds behind Lel in second place, while another Kenyan named Christopher Cheboiboch took third place. In the women's race, Margaret Okayo from Kenya broke her previous record by nearly 2 minutes and won the race for the second time. Margaret completed the marathon in 2 hours, 22 minutes, and 31 seconds, kneeling and kissing the ground at the finish line. Catherine Ndereba from Kenya, the current world champion in the marathon, finished second, 33 seconds behind the winner. Lorna Kiplagat from the Netherlands came in third, while Joyce Chepchumba from Kenya, the defending champion of the New York Marathon, finished sixth.