Paula Radcliffe became only the second women in history to win the New York City Marathon three times in a time of 2:23:56.
Ludmila Petrova, a 40-year-old runner from Russia, placed second in 2:25:43, breaking the world masters record of 2:26:51 set in London in 1987 by Priscilla Welch of Great Britain.
American Kara Goucher, who was born in Queens and lost her father to a drunk driver, finished third in 2:25:53. Goucher became the first American woman to reach the podium since Anne Marie Letko since 1994. She also ran the fastest time by an American making her debut, breaking the previous record of 2:26:58 set by Deena Kastor here in 2001.
According to Universal Sports:
"Radcliffe, as she is accustomed to doing, broke to the front right from the get go. While the starting temperature was 40 degrees, the wind on the wide-open Verrazano Narrows Bridge -- the course's first and most challenging climb -- knocked that temperature down close to freezing.
As the front-runner, Radcliffe sacrificed herself a bit bucking that headwind while Goucher and Gete Wami of Ethiopia tucked in behind her like racecars drafting behind the leader.
The three ran in that fashion into Brooklyn and the third mile and the first watering station when Goucher surged to the front. Her one-second lead was short-lived however as Radcliffe reclaimed her advantage shortly after hydrating.
The Brit continued to apply pressure on the field with mile splits ranging from 5:23 to 5:39. She was able to thin the lead pack slightly over the first five miles, but did not shake Goucher or Wami, who continued to nip at her heels.
Goucher again reclaimed the lead at the second watering station to get her water bottle, but dropped it. A few strides later, Radcliffe was back in front. Consecutive 5:34 miles brought the runners through seven miles in 39:54."