A pair of Kenyans, 29-year-old Stanley Biwott and 33-year-old Mary Keitany, have won the 2015 TCS New York City Marathon. Keitany, who won the race last year as well, took this year’s contest with a time of 2 hours, 24 minutes, and 25 seconds, more than a minute ahead of her nearest competitor. (Last year Keitany won by one of the closest margins in the race’s history, so this victory must have a lot less stressful.) For the men, Biwott — who had been considered a favorite to win in 2012 before Hurricane Sandy led to the cancellation of the race — finished in 2 hours, 10 minutes, 34 seconds, his first win of this race. This year there were not many elite America competitors, as the New York Times points out that many skipped the marathon so they could prepare for February’s U.S. Olympic trials in Los Angeles.
In the wheelchair division, American Tatyanna McFadden took first place for the women, setting a new course record with her time of 1 hour 43 minutes, and 4 seconds. For the men, South African Ernst Van Dyk won the wheelchair division in 1 hour, 30 minutes, and 54 seconds, just one second ahead of the second place finisher, American Josh George.
The race took place under mild weather and overcast skies, and comprised a little more than 50,000 runners, none of whom were allowed to juggle this year, which was apparently a thing until race officials banned it. According to the Times, pets, drones, and selfie sticks are also banned. Carrying the Eiffel Tower, however, seems to be allowed:
