2008 NYC Half-Marathon Presented by NIKE Women's Gallery

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Early in the race, Japan’s Yuri Kano and Kenyans Alice Timbilili and Rose Cheruiyot set the pace for the women in Central Park.

Marathon world champion Catherine Ndereba of Kenya, Mexico’s marathon record-holder Madaí Pérez, and Russia’s Lyudmila Biktasheva kept the lead pack in their sights.

Cruising toward Times Square, Timbilili, Kano, and Pérez remained focused as they ran with a few local friends.

Alone on Seventh Avenue, but not yet in front, Ndereba exercised patience and fortitude today; for her, the race was an Olympic marathon tune-up.

The four women pictured here would persist to take the top four finishing spots.

Ndereba, always calm under pressure, seemed to somehow know in advance how the race would play out.

Ndereba ran 1:10:18 to take back the title she first won here in 2006; last year she was the runner-up. She’s helped make this race a world-class event in just three years.

Podium finishers Pérez (second), Ndereba, and Kano (third) united in celebration after a hard-fought battle.

Pérez (1:10:26) stayed with Ndereba until the 12th mile and finished just eight seconds behind the winner.


Kano, who placed fourth here in both 2007 and 2006, moved up to third this year with her 1:10:31 finish.

Timbilili had a successful NYC Half debut; she finished fourth in 1:11:08.

Colleen De Reuck, 44 and the mother of a 1-year-old daughter, inspired masters athletes and moms everywhere; she was fifth overall in 1:12:03.

Biktasheva held on for sixth place, running 1:12:23.

Westchester Track Club’s Aziza Aliyu took seventh in 1:12:27, a PR by three seconds.

Cheruiyot finished on the heels of Aliyu in 1:12:28, good for eighth place.

Ilsa Paulson, the second American finisher, was ninth in 1:13:22.

Japan’s Kiyoko Shimahara joined Kano, her training partner and roommate, to round out the top 10.

Australian Olympian and marathon record-holder Benita Johnson had an off day, placing 11th.

Kenya’s Everlyne Lagat notched another strong performance in NYC; she finished 12th in 1:14:26.

Left to right: WTC teammates Alemtsehay Misganaw, Mariam Sebleledet, and Buzunesh Deba finished 15th, 13th, and 14th, respectively.