Desisa and Keitany clock second-fastest times in history, while Romanchuk becomes first-ever American and youngest athlete to win men’s wheelchair division - New York, November 4, 2018 – Ethiopia’s Lelisa Desisa won his first TCS New York City Marathon and Mary Keitany won her fourth – both recording the second fastest times in history in the open division for men and women, respectively. At 20 years old, Daniel Romanchuk became the first-ever American and youngest athlete to win the men’s wheelchair division at the TCS New York City Marathon, while Switzerland’s Manuela Schär won her second consecutive title in the women’s wheelchair division.

New York, August 23, 2018 – Five-time Olympian Bernard Lagat of the United States will make his highly anticipated marathon debut at the TCS New York City Marathon on Sunday, November 4, as the five-time world champion will join defending champion Geoffrey Kamworor of Kenya to lead a men’s professional open division that features nine Olympians and three Abbott World Marathon Majors race champions.

Kelkile Gezahegn triumphs, Meskerem Assefa breaks women’s Course Record in windy Frankfurt - Runner-up last year, this time the number one: the Ethiopian Kelkile Gezahegn won the 37th edition of the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon in cool and at times extremely windy conditions in 2:06:37. After a thrilling duel he broke away from Martin Kosgey of Kenya who finished in 2:06:41. Fellow Kenyan Alex Kibet finished third on his marathon debut in 2:07:09.

(photo - Kelkile Gezahegn, Arne Gabius and Wilson Chebet as well as Christoph Kopp, Nancy Kiprop, Katharina Heinig, Mare Dibaba, Betsy Saina, Haftamnesh Tesfay and Jo Schindler) Frankfurt this year especially is rich in running talent with 14 men who have broken 2:10 and ten women with personal bests of sub-2:25, making the latter field among the strongest in the event’s 37-year history. Top of the women’s marathon charts on lifetime performances is the former World champion Mare Dibaba from Ethiopia, the first woman on the start line with a sub-2:20 to her credit, plus this year’s Paris champion Betsy Saina of Kenya among a group of women who should have the credentials to put the course record of 2:21:01 under pressure.