Icon Gebrselassie announces retirement after dropping out of race: The 16th mile of Sunday's New York City Marathon was the last step of Haile Gebrselassie's storied career.
The finish line was the next step in Chilean miner Edison Pena's improbable rescue.
Gebrselassie, the marathon world-record holder, announced his retirement after dropping out of the race on a day that signaled the rise of a new Ethiopian standout. Countryman Gebre Gebremariam won the men's title in his marathon debut in 2 hours, 8 minutes, 14 seconds.
Emmanuel Mutai of Kenya was second in 2:09:18.
The 26-year-old Gebremariam, last year's cross-country world champion, became the first man to win New York in his marathon debut since Alberto Salazar in 1980.
Kenyan Edna Kiplagat, 31, won the women's title in 2:28:20 and Shalane Flanagan, a Portland resident making her marathon debut, became the first American woman in two decades to finish second.
Gebrselassie, 37, pulled out of the race with a right-knee injury on the Queensboro Bridge.
Pena, 34, who jogged in tunnels while trapped underground, ran and walked on a bad knee to finish the 26.2 miles in less than six hours.
More than 45,000 runners started the race.
Marlene Farrell of Leavenworth was 49th among women in 2:54:56 and Danelle Sullivan of Seattle was 93rd in 3:06:37.
Monday, November 8, 2010
NYC
news.com
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