Radcliffe in New York marathon win
NEW YORK -- Britain's world record holder Paula Radcliffe bounced back from her Olympic heartbreak by winning the women's New York marathon on Sunday.
She clocked two hours 23 minutes seven seconds with Kenyan Susan Chepkemei in second after running alongside Radcliffe for the final 10 kms of the 42.195 kms race.
Radcliffe, 30, was contesting her first marathon since dropping out of last August's Athens Olympic race in tears after starting as the favorite.
She said it was good to have ended the season on a high note after the agony in Greece where she also failed to finish the 10,000 meters.
It led to several British newspapers labelling her a choker and one to suggest that there was a new term for the word 'quit' which was 'to do a Radcliffe'.
"It's a good way to end the year," said Radcliffe, who turns 31 in December.
"I am ready for a good rest now though!" she added.
The previous closest women's finish in New York Marathon history came in 1990 when Wanda Panfil won in 2:30:45, defeating Kim Jones by five seconds.
South Africa's Hendrik Ramaala won the men's title at the New York Marathon in two hours nine minutes 24seconds.
Ramaala became only the second South African to win the New York race, following Willie Mtolo in 1992.
American Meb Keflezighi, who was born in Eritrea but became a United States citizen in 1998, was second in 2:09:52 with Kenyan Timothy Cherigat third.
It was the worst Kenyan showing at the event since Joseph Kamau settled for third in 1996.
Three-time Olympian Ramaala, like Radcliffe, found success in the Big Apple after tears at the Athens Olympics.
Ramaala, 32, dropped out of the Olympic marathon with a groin injury only to recover and win a 16km event three weeks later in Amsterdam.