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Updated Tuesday, November 3, 2009 10:39 am TWN, AFP

Keflezighi, Tulu capture NYC Marathon titles

NEW YORK -- Meb Keflezighi became the first U.S. man in more than two decades to win the New York City Marathon on Sunday, while Derartu Tulu ended Paula Radcliffe's two-year grip on the women's title. Keflezighi, the 2004 Olympic silver medalist, earned his first major marathon with a time of 2hr 09min 15sec.

The 34-year-old athlete, who was born in Eritrea and became a U.S. citizen in 1998, pointed to the “USA” on his singlet as he approached the finish line, eliciting cheers from the crowd as he became the first American man to win since 1982.

“The USA gave me all the opportunities there is in education, sports and lifestyle,” he said. “To be able to represent the USA is a big thing for me.”

Keflezighi pulled away from four-time Boston Marathon champion Robert Cheruiyot of Kenya at the 23-mile mark. Cheruiyot was second in 2:09:56 and Morocco's Jaouad Gharib third in 2:10:25.

Alberto Salazar was the last U.S. man to win the New York title, capturing three straight from 1980-82.

Keflezighi's victory capped his comeback from a stress fracture in his hip, which was diagnosed after his disappointing performance in the U.S. Olympic trials in New York two years ago.

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