Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Kenya's Mutai Sets NYC Marathon Record

Blows by previous mark by more than 2 minutes

By the Associated Press

Posted Nov 6, 2011 11:43 AM CST

(AP) – Geoffrey Mutai of Kenya has won the New York City Marathon in a course record time of 2 hours, 5 minutes, 6 seconds today, crushing the previous mark of 2:07:43 set by Tesfaye Jifar of Ethiopia a decade earlier. The 30-year-old has established himself as the favorite at next summer's Olympics after two landmark performances this year.

In April, Mutai ran the fastest 26.2 miles in history: 2:03:02 in Boston. It didn't count as a world record because the course is considered too straight and too downhill. The second- and third-place finishers today also broke the old course record. Fellow Kenyan Emmanuel Mutai (no relation), the London Marathon champ, was 1:22 back. Tsegaye Kebede of Ethiopia was third. Click here for the women's results.

Geoffrey Mutai of Kenya poses after crossing the finish line with a course record in the men's division at the New York City Marathon in New York, Sunday, Nov. 6, 2011. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Geoffrey Mutai, of Kenya, runs through Central Park on his way to winning the ING New York City Marathon, Sunday, Nov. 6, 2011. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)

Kenyan runner Geoffrey Mutai powers his way amongst fellow runners on his way to win the New York City Marathon, in New York, November 6, 2011. (Getty Images)

Geoffrey Mutai of Kenya celebrates as he wins the Men's Division of the 42nd ING New York City Marathon in Central Park on November 6, 2011. (Getty Images)

Kenyan runner Geoffrey Mutai runs to victory in the New York City Marathon, in New York, November 6, 2011. (Getty Images)

Kenyan runner Geoffrey Mutai runs to vistory in the New York City Marathon, in New York, November 6, 2011. (Getty Images)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

CLICK BELOW TO VOTE

81%

To report an error on this story, notify our editors.

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Getty Images

Man Goes to Hospital For Kidney Stone...Leaves a Woman (Huff Post)

Is Chase Crawford Dating a Cougar? (Bleacher Report)

My Boss Walked in on Me Touching Myself, Now He Won't Stop Flirting (Slate)

7 Gross Celebrity Items Sold at Auction (The Week)

The Lowest-Rated Show on TV Is Actually Awesome (Slate)

Partner Links

Sponsor Links

A snapshot of the day's best news stories.

View Larger Grid

All Today Yesterday Pick a Date

COMMENTS

Read the comment policy

Showing 3 of 4 comments

Jeffrey-Lebowski

Nov 7, 2011 2:21 AM CST

Running is what the human animal does better than the rest of the animals. A pack of humans can run down any animal, until it is exhausted and kill it for food. Since the distances were long, the children and adults had to be able to keep up. The slow and weak had to fend for themselves, natural selection at it's best. If you have seen the new running socks that have the toes in them, they may look funny but you will not get shin splints or feet and ankle problems. Man was born to run. It seems we forget that we are animals

Shannonals

Nov 6, 2011 1:40 PM CST

Outstanding run.

JoeQ

Nov 6, 2011 12:18 PM CST

I bet he's a maasai. Those folk are incredible.

What's Popular Now on Facebook

Japanese Artist Serves Up Own Cooked Genitals

Rape Conviction Cleared, Thanks to Facebook

Associated Press (Source Grid »)

Sports • US

Boston Marathon • marathon • New York City Marathon • Geoffrey Mutai

More Newser Stories

Kenyans Dominate Sweltering Boston Marathon

Second-slowest race since 1985

(NEWSER) - Kenyans conquered an unusually-hot Boston Marathon , with Wesley Korir winning in 2 hours, 12 minutes, and 40 seconds. Sharon Cherop beat out another Kenyan, Jemima Jelagat Sumgong, in a last-minute sprint; Cherop clocked in at 2 hours, 31 minutes, and 50 seconds. It was the second-slowest race since 1985, just a year after Geoffrey Mutai turned in the fastest marathon ever. This year, cramps forced Mutai to quit after 18 miles in 80-plus degree heat, the AP reports. More»

Boston Marathon Kicks Off Amid 'Dangerous' Heat

Runners told they could run next year instead

(NEWSER) - The Boston Marathon kicked off this morning, despite heat forecasts so high that organizers urged runners to consider sitting the race out. Temperatures are expected to hit 88 degrees by 2pm, which would be a record and drastically higher than normal, according to the Boston Herald . "We had to consider cancelation," says Tom Grilk, head of the Boston Athletic Association. Instead, officials told qualified runners that they could run next year instead, and urged them to do so. "Only the fittest runners should consider participating," Grilk says. More»

New Record Set in Boston Marathon

Kenya's Geoffrey Mutai takes first place

(NEWSER) - Geoffrey Mutai of Kenya took first place at the Boston Marathon today, finishing the race in a record 2:03:02. That time beats the marathon’s previous record, set by fellow Kenyan Robert Kiprono Cheruiyot, by more than two minutes, reports the Boston Globe . It would also be a world record, except that Boston times aren’t recognized internationally because the course is riddled with hills. Mutai finished just four seconds ahead of Moses Musop, who is also from Kenya. More»

Newbies Win NYC Marathon

Gebre Gebremariam, Edna Kiplagat take men's, women's races respectively

(AP) - Gebre Gebremariam of Ethiopia has won the men's title at the New York City Marathon in his debut at the distance, while Kenya's Edna Kiplagat won the women's race today for her first major marathon championship. Another Ethiopian man was the favorite, but world-record holder Haile Gebrselassie pulled out at the 16-mile mark with an apparent right knee injury. More»

Chilean Miner Hits NYC Marathon

Edison Pena ran every day while trapped underground

(AP) - He trained 2,300 feet underground, running miles each day with his very life in the balance, but today rescued Chilean miner Edison Pena hit the ground running in the New York City Marathon. He began at 9:40am, and hoped to finish the 26.2-mile race in six hours. Dubbed "The Runner," the 34-year-old Pena jogged every day of his 69-day ordeal through the tunnels of the collapsed mine. More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

Kenya's Mutai Sets NYC Marathon Record

Blows by previous mark by more than 2 minutes

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Boston Marathon • marathon • New York City Marathon • Geoffrey Mutai

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Kenyans Dominate Sweltering Boston Marathon

Second-slowest race since 1985

Boston Marathon Kicks Off Amid 'Dangerous' Heat

Runners told they could run next year instead

New Record Set in Boston Marathon

Kenya's Geoffrey Mutai takes first place

Newbies Win NYC Marathon

Gebre Gebremariam, Edna Kiplagat take men's, women's races respectively

Chilean Miner Hits NYC Marathon

Edison Pena ran every day while trapped underground

About Us

Site

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?