For the first time in four decades, an American woman ran through the finish line and won the women’s New York City (NYC) Marathon this past Sunday.
Image from CNN 2017
After finishing the race with an unofficial time of 2 hours, 26 minutes, and 53 seconds, Olympic medalist, Shalane Flanagan beat three-time defending champion Mary Keitany of Kenya by about one minute, according to several reports.
Flanagan crossed the finish line with tears in her eyes before proudly carrying the American flag to celebrate her win—the first time an American woman has done so since 1977.
“It’s indescribable..It’s a moment I’m trying to soak up and savor,” said Flanagan in an article released in TIME magazine.
Flanagan made her debut in the NYC Marathon in 2010, where she finished in second place with an official time of 2 hours, 28 minutes and 40 seconds. Her race was also recorded as the best finish by an American woman in two decades at that time.
Flanagan had not competed in the NYC Marathon since her impressive race in 2010, but came back with another notable run this year.
In addition to her new title as NYC Marathon winner, she also holds the American records for the 3,000 metre and 5,000 metre indoor races. In the 2008 Olympics, Flanagan also took the bronze medal for the 10,000 metre race. However, due to complications, the International Association of Athletics Federations ruled that the silver medalist, Elvan Abeylegesse of Turkey, was being sanctioned for a positive doping test and was disqualified, making Flanagan’s time the second-fastest that year.
Earlier today, Flanagan took to Twitter to express her feelings on the marathon.
I️ can’t stop smiling.
I️ can’t stop crying.
I’ve barely slept.
Too much happiness. https://t.co/ZakMAxtcQz— Shalane Flanagan (@ShalaneFlanagan) November 7, 2017
Official runner times from the NYC Marathon will be released later this month.
Related articles:
- Beauty Queens Fight Back Against Femicide
- How Workplace Sexism Led to the Women in STEM Club
- Ontario To Pass Law Banning Protests Outside Abortion Clinics
Want more HCW? Check us out on social media!