Jeļena Prokopčuka of Latvia has successfully defended her title in the ING New York City Marathon, finishing the Nov. 5 women’s race in a time of 2 hours, 25 minutes and 5 seconds, just under a half-minute slower than during her 2005 victory.
Prokopčuka, 30, is the sixth woman in the history of the New York marathon to repeat as champion, according to the marathon’s Web site. She will take home USD 130,000 for her victory.
She and Tatiana Hladyr of Ukraine broke away from the pack early in the race, but Prokopčuka eventually pulled clear and crossed the finish line a full minute before her.
Last year, Prokopčuka won after the leader, Susan Chepkemei of Kenya, became ill three miles from the finish line.
In 2004, Prokopčuka finished fifth with a time of 2:26:51.
Prokopčuka is coached by her husband, Aleksander Prokopčuks.
Prokopčuka’s personal best time in a marathon was 2:22:56, recorded last year in Osaka, Japan, according to the International Association of Athletics Federations.
Marilson Gomes dos Santos of Brazil won the men’s race in this year’s New York marathon.
Other runners from Latvia participating in the marathon included Ivars Eskins, 44, who finished in a time of 3:38:04; Dzintars Rudzītis, 50, finishing in a time of 3:50:32; Kristaps Tamuzs, 25, finishing in a time of 3:54:33; Marts Kalniņš, 36, finishing in a time of 3:59:07; Andis Vītoliņš, 37, finishing in a time of 4:01:40; and Inta Eskina, 45, who finished in a time of 5:53:37.
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Finishing with a time of 3:15:18 was Ed Viesturs world famouns Latvian American mountain climber from Bainbridge Island, WA. This was his first marathon he has participated in although he runs as part of his training for mountain climbing.