After 26.2 miles and more than two hours of fierce competition, Benson Kipruto of Kenya was so confident that he was about to win the New York City Marathon on Sunday that he raised his arms in triumph just ahead of the finish line, and it nearly cost him.
Kipruto appeared unaware that Alexander Mutiso Munyao, his countryman, had closed the small gap that had opened up between them and was charging hard in the race’s final meters. Kipruto still narrowly prevailed — by three hundredths of a second.
It was a thrilling finish on a record-setting day, as more than 50,000 athletes — runners and wheelchair racers, elites and hobby joggers — packed the streets of the five boroughs under sunny skies and amid perfect conditions for fast times.