Kenya's Keitany Eyes Ascendancy After Face-Saving NY Victory

Published by Xinhua Net on November 9, 2014

Mary Keitany, Kenya's two-time London winner is still basking in the glow of her resolute New York conquest last Sunday that served both as a moving personal triumph on her comeback.

The New York victory saved face for elite marathon running still reeling from compatriot and fellow female highflyer Rita Jeptoo's failed A-sample test for EPO.

It was the friendly athletes' perfect answer to a waiting world on her ability to storm back to the high table of World Marathon Majors after missing the entire 2013 to welcome her second born Samatha and above all, it ended her Big Apple title heartache at her third time of asking.

Keitany's 2:25:07 victory in extremely windy and cold conditions will not be remembered for blistering times she's reputed for, but for being gladly welcomed with open arms by athletics purists worldwide for two reasons.

It was her first race over the meanest 42.195km distance since finishing fourth at London 2012 Olympics where she was expected to strike gold in a redeeming act for her embellished reputation after electing to take a maternal break, a truly heart-warming story that sprinkled human touch in a fiercely competed sport.

Coming against the gloomy backdrop of Jeptoo's doping stunner that sparked international outrage, casting aspersions on a nation with a strong distance running heritage, Keitany spared the sport further unwelcome scrutiny when she edged Jemimah Sumgong for the crown by three seconds, tying for the closest finish to a women's race in New York in history following 2004 when another Kenyan, Susan Chepkemei lost out to Britain's great Paula Radcliffe by the same wafer thin margin.