NEW YORK—There was an international flavor to the NYC Marathon on Sunday. Denmark, Mexico, Holland, and Sweden were represented, as were Australia, Senegal, Germany, and Serbia. The marathon draws professional runners and running hobbyists from around the world—both to run through New York uninhibited by the typical car and pedestrian traffic, and to compete for the $130,000 top prize.
The United States won the men’s division every single year from the marathon’s beginning in 1970, leading up to 1982, and the women’s division for the first seven years. Since then, however, only one American male has won—Meb Kefleighi in 2009, a native Eritrean who obtained U.S. citizenship.
This year, the top five men’s finishers hail from outside the United States, as do three of the top five women’s finishers. Kenya and Ethiopia took the top four men’s slots, and two out of the top three women’s slots. Other countries with top finishers over the years include South Africa, the U.K., Italy, and Brazil.
Crowd support
“The people [here] are fantastic,” said Holland native Peter Sebal, who ran in the Rotterdam marathon the last four years. “Rotterdam is a small village compared to New York,” the 48-year-old mused.
Crowds gathered along the 26.2-mile route cheering and clapping, reading the names tacked on the runners, and encouraging them.
“So many people cheering; [they help] you keep momentum,” said George Sykes, who is from South Carolina and watched the marathon on television when he was young.