World News
An American Woman Wins the NYC Marathon: First Time in 40 Years
This year, Shalane Flanagan finished the NYC Marathon in a spectacular 2 hours, 26 minutes, and 53 seconds. The New York Times states that this speedy finish marks the first time in 40 years an American woman has crossed the finish line first in the women’s race. Behind her was Mary Keitany of Kenya, who won the NYC Marathon the previous three years, finishing in 2 hours, 27 minutes, and 54 seconds. She gave Flanagan a hug even though she was fighting for her own record of becoming the second woman to win four times in a row.
ESPN says that Flanagan, 36, has been very open about how much she desired the win. “How my career ends is super important to me. It doesn’t mean I’m going to win a major, but at least I’m going to try to win a major marathon in the U.S., and I need at least two more events,” she stated.
She finished sixth in the marathon at the Rio Olympics in 2016 and collapsed across the finish line at the Olympic trials, but afterward, she made a comeback by enhancing other areas of her life. ESPN writes that she co-wrote a cookbook and even took in two foster children with her husband while she healed an injury. There’s no word as to whether or not this will be her final race.