Gebrmarin wins New York marathon; Gebrselassie retires

Nov 8, 2010, 5:45 GMT

   New York - Gebre Gebrmariam of Ethiopia won the New York City Marathon in his debut over the distance, while compatriot Haile Gebrselassie ended his illustrious career after pulling out with a knee injury.

   First place in the women's race on a windy morning went to Edna Kiplagat of Kenya.

   Gebrselassie, 37, had to quit his first New York marathon after 25km with problems in his right knee and then revealed it was time to call it quits.

   'I am retiring ... Let me do another job,' Gebrselassie told a news conference.

   Gebrselassie won Olympic 10,000 metres gold medals in 1996 and 2000 and four straight world titles over the distance from 1993-1999. He set the marathon world record 2007 in Berlin and bettered it to 2 hours 3 minutes 59 seconds at the same race in 2008.

   The 2009 world cross champion Gebrmarin won the 42.195km-race in 2 hours 8 minutes 14 seconds. Kenyan world championship runner-up Emmanuel Mutai placed second a minute behind on 2:09:15 and compatriot Moses Kigen Kipkosgei was third.

   There was more joy for Kenya on the women's side as Kiplagat dominated in 2:28:20 hours from local runner Shalane Flanagan (2:28:40) and Mary Keitany of Kenya.

   A record 45,344 runners had registered for the 41st edition of the race.

   They included Chilean Chilean Edison Pena, one of 33 miners who were rescued last month after being trapped 70 days in a collapsed Chilean mineshaft. Pena has been in the publicity spotlight since his arrival in the United States on Thursday and was even met by Gebrselassie.

Pena completed the course in 5:40:51, despite knee pain that forced him to walk part of the route. He had been targeting a finish in five or six hours.

He crossed the finish to cheers as his escorts held aloft the Chilean flag.