On a near-perfect day for a run in New York City, Peter Kirui of Kenya won the NYC Half on Sunday, crossing the finish line at the South Street Seaport in 59:39, just 15 seconds of the men's course record. On the women's side, Ethiopia's Firehiwot Dado won in 1:08:35, setting the course record in the process.
Kirui's pace was 4:33 for 13.1 miles, and that's something that will never not be amazing to me. A pair of Ethiopians took second and third in the men's race, with Deriba Merga and Feyisa Lilesa both finishing within 66 seconds of Kirui.
"I'm very happy now to be the winner and maybe come to the event next year, also," said Kirui.
New Zealand's Kim Smith (second in 1:08:43) and American Kara Goucher (third overall in 1:09:12) rounded out the women's podium. Meb Keflezighi (11th overall in 1:01:41) was the top American men's finisher. Dathan Ritzenhein was 15th overall with a time of 1:01:52.
For Dado, it was just even more success in New York, the 2011 ING New York City Marathon champion.
"I can say that New York has been a place of success for me," said Dado, the 28-year-old whose next race is the Boston Marathon on 16 April.
Each of the male and female winners receive $20,000 in prize money.