Contact: Colleen Roche/Jennifer Chait (212) 788-2958
Mr. Kagwe, a native of Kenya, finished first for the second straight year with a time of 2 hours 8 minutes 45 seconds. Ms. Fiacconi, who is from Italy, was the top female finisher with a time of 2 hours 25 minutes 17 seconds. Tesfaye Bekele was the top New York City male finisher with a time of 2 hours 15 minutes 23 seconds and Kim Griffin was the top New York City female finisher in a time of 2 hours 46 minutes 17 seconds. Joining the Mayor at today's press conference was New York Road Runners Club President and New York City Marathon Director Allan Steinfeld.
"I want to congratulate this year's winners of the New York City Marathon - John Kagwe and Franca Fiacconi -- and two top finishers from New York City -- Tesfaye Bekele and Kim Griffin - on their performances in this year's running of the 29th New York City Marathon," Mayor Giuliani said. "For nearly three decades, the New York City Marathon has been a tradition for runners from all over the world. As one of the premier international sporting events in the world, the New York City Marathon attracts the best and the fastest from all over the world.
"For the second year in a row, Kenya's John Kagwe finished first in a talented field of competitors," the Mayor continued. "And for the first time, Italy's Franca Fiacconi took home top honors in the women's field. From New York City, Tesfaye Bekele and Kim Griffin - both from Manhattan - were the first New Yorkers to finish, placing 16th and 17th overall in their categories. I want to congratulate all of yesterday's runners and thank the Road Runners for organizing this quintessential New York City event."
Kenyan John Kagwe, 29, ranked fourth in the world, finished just a few seconds ahead of his countryman Joseph Chebet in the second-closest finish in the 29 years of the New York City Marathon. The top female performance was recorded by Italy's Franca Fiacconi, 32, who became the third fastest female marathoner in Italian history.
Tesfaye Bekele, the top male finisher from New York City, is a native of Ethiopia who now lives in Manhattan. Mr. Bekele, 27, finished first in this year's "Not Quite the New York City Marathon", the 5 kilometer prep race for the Marathon this year. Kim Griffin, also from Manhattan and a mother of two young daughters, is a cardiologist at Mount Sinai Medical Center. She was the second American female finisher in last year's New York City Marathon.
The New York City Marathon's difficult 26.2-mile course took over 31,000 runners through all five boroughs of the City. The race kicked off on the Staten Island side of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge and ended in Central Park across from the Tavern on the Green. More than two million people were on hand to watch the Marathon, making it the world's largest spectator sporting event.
On September 13, 1970, New York Road Runners Club president Vince Chiappetta and entrepreneur Fred Lebow staged the inaugural New York City Marathon in Central Park. The 127 runners, who paid a $1 entry fee, raced the 26.2 miles through the Park with no water stops. By 1976, a decision was made to create a five-borough marathon that would showcase the City's many diverse neighborhoods.