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NYC Marathon Results: Paula Radcliffe and Marilson Gomes Dos Santos Come Out On Top

by Jon Azpiri | November 2, 2008 at 01:51 pm

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Paula Radcliffe of England and Brazilian Marilson Gomes dos Santos won the 2008 ING New York City Marathon.

The win marks Radcliffe's third consecutive victory at the NYC Marathon. She clocked a time of two hours 23 minutes and 55 seconds and hopes to improve on that time in 2009. She was followed by 40-year-old Russian Ludmila Petrova and Kara Goucher, who became the first American to finish on the women's podium in 14 years.

Goucher, who was coached by legendary runner Alberto Salazar, was running to honor the memory of her deceased father.

Goucher, who was born in New York City, got a note in her backpack from three-time NYC Marathon winner Salazar telling her to "have faith" and "you're ready."

She might have been more familiar with the five boroughs of New York had her father, Mirko Grgas, not been killed by a drunk driver in 1982 when she was nearly 4. Her mother moved Goucher and her two sisters to the Midwest shortly after the accident.

On the men's side, Brazil's Marilson Gomes dos Santos narrowly beat out pre-race favorite Abderrahim Goumri of Morocco. Goumri appeared to be on the verge of his first major victory, but was eventually by Gomes on Central Park South. Needless to say, he was disappointed by the result.

"I promised yesterday I should be the winner," Abderrahim Goumri said. "But I did mistakes."

Goumri revealed that he missed picking up three or four bottles which contained electrolyte fluids. He tried to grab a bottle on Fifth Avenue in Harlem, but he missed it. "The problem was the sugar," he said. The last two miles I was not as strong."

The is Gomes dos Santos' second win at the NYC Marathon will a cause for celebration in his native Brazil.

But Gomes has now proven it twice in New York. In 2006, he was celebrated wildly in Brazil, thrown parades and party.

Yes, that will happen again, Gomes said. "But it will have to wait."

He and his wife, Juliana, are going on a planned vacation.

"We're going to Disney World," he said.

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TommyKirchmeier

at 14:47 on November 2nd, 2008

Paula Radcliffe, leading at mile 12.

TommyKirchmeier has contributed a photo to this story.

matticles

at 15:17 on November 2nd, 2008

This is a photo from the NYC Marathon 2008 from Fort Greene, Brooklyn. This particular neighborhood is a very good place to watch the marathon as there are many colorful people (it is an ethnically diverse neighborhood) and a live horns band.

matticles has contributed a photo to this story.

mengdmu

at 15:42 on November 2nd, 2008

Chilly day for spectators but perfect for the runners... Already, at the 3 mile mark, some of them were removing their gloves and scarves.... tossing them off to the side. Wonder if anyone will be picking them up and bringing them to Central Park?

mengdmu has contributed a photo to this story.