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New York Marathon winners and Armstrong

South America got its first New York Marathon winner, as the Brazilian Marilson Gomes dos Santos finished the race first. His victory ended a 10 year long period of African winners. In the women`s race, Latvia`s Jelena Prokopcuka came in first for her second straight victory, becoming the first repeat winner since 1993-94.

Dos Santos broke away from the pack at the 19 mile mark, and was not followed by any of the runners in the leading pack. His tactic proved wise, as he came in to finish in 2 hours, 9 minutes and 58 seconds, eight seconds before second place Stephen Kiogora of Kenya and 12 seconds ahead of Paul Tergat, the world record holder and defending champion, a Kenyan as well.

On a day with little wind and temperatures comfortably in the 30`s, the women`s race also saw strange tactics by runners. The American favorite, who came in only sixth, Deena Kastor said "Tactically this was a very strange race." The last American to win the race was Miki Gorman in 1977. Lance Armstrong, who won the Tour de France seven consecutive times, broke the three hour mark by 23 seconds, achieving the goal he set for himself in his first marathon run.