2009 NYC Half-Marathon Professional WomenAugust 16, 2009 [Complete Coverage] |
The surprise late entry of marathon world record-holder Paula Radcliffe of Great Britain set the stage for a super-competitive women’s race. Radcliffe, racing for the first time in nearly 10 months, set a tough early pace and eventually pulled away to win by well over a minute. |
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 In the early going, Radcliffe led a strong international group through hilly Central Park. |
 Radcliffe left her rivals behind in the eighth mile as she powered down Seventh Avenue. |
 As she ran hard into the finish on the West Side Highway, there were no other women in sight. |
 Radcliffe’s 1:09:45 finishing time fell two seconds short of the event record. |
 Mamitu Daska of Ethiopia finished second in 1:11:04. |
 Catherine Ndereba of Kenya, the defending champion, was third in 1:11:56. |
 Bahrain’s Nadia Ejjafini was fourth; her time was 1:12:47. |
 Bronx resident Buzunesh Deba ran 1:13:17, a PR, and finished fifth. |
 Ilsa Paulson, another New York-area runner, was sixth in 1:13:20. |
 Deena Kastor, the American marathon record-holder, had a rare off day and finished seventh. |
 Hungary’s Anikó Kálovics, 32, was behind Kastor in 1:14:51. |
 Lindsey Scherf of Hartsdale, NY, was ninth in 1:14:56 in her half-marathon debut. |
 At age 38, Sheri Piers of Falmouth, ME, broke the top 10 with a 1:16:16 finish. |
 Japan’s Rie Matsumoto, 24, was 12th in 1:16:34. |
 Heidi Westerling of Acworth, NH, was first in the 25-29 division in 1:17:38. |
 It was a great day for women’s running, with Daska, Radcliffe, and Ndereba atop the podium. |
