Sub-elite runner third at TCS New York City Marathon

Geoffrey Kamworor, the 2017 New York Marathon champion, is once again the king of NYC. The half-marathon world record holder broke the field with roughly 7K to go to take the win on Sunday in 2:08:13. Second place went to Albert Korir in 2:08:36. (Korir won this year’s Scotiabank Ottawa Marathon in 2:08:03 back in May.)

.@GKamworor ?? is ???! He is once again your #TCSNYCMarathon champion in the men’s open division! pic.twitter.com/EcxPKCNQOw

— TCS New York City Marathon (@nycmarathon) November 3, 2019

But third place finisher, Girma Bekele Gebre, is the story of the day. Gebre entered the race with a 2:13 personal best and shattered it on Sunday, running 2:08:38 for third. The runner, who ran in bib number 443 (a non-elite bib) finished in a nearly five-minute personal best in by far the best race of his life. The men ran an extremely conservative half, coming through 21.1K in 1:04 in a pack of 15 runners. This was in stark contrast to the women’s race, where the leaders ran a quick first half (1:11) before the three biggest threats broke away.

With his 2nd #TCSNYCMarathon victory, @GKamworor?? is your 2019 men's open division champion! pic.twitter.com/mo39OzhOTo

— TCS New York City Marathon (@nycmarathon) November 3, 2019

Gebre didn’t receive an elite bib, but as a result of the men’s slow pace through the first half, he was able to keep up. He won the Airbnb Brooklyn Half-Marathon in May 2017 in 1:04:56 (and split nearly the same time through his marathon on Sunday.) He’s a New York-based Ethiopian who reportedly trains with the West Side Runners.

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Lelisa Desisa, the 2019 marathon world champion, did not finish Sunday’s race. Desisa, who was a favourite to win Sunday’s 42.2K, didn’t record a split after seven miles (just over 10K). The runner was also the reigning New York Marathon champion.

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Congrats to @jwardy21 on that race! That was huge. Enjoy your break, buddy! Maybe just phone it in for the rest of the year. Trials will probably be fine! #TCSNYCMarathon

— Scott Fauble (@scottfaubs) November 3, 2019

Jared Ward was the first American across the line for sixth place in 2:10:45. Ward becomes the one of the 15 American men to run under 2:12:20 in 2019.

Full results can be found here.