American Meb Keflezighi wins New York City Marathon

“Today was a huge day,’’ said the 34-year-old from San Diego after he’d run away from Kenya’s Robert Cheruiyot in the final 2 miles to win by 41 seconds in 2 hours 9 minutes 15 seconds. “You visualize, you visualize, but when reality hits, it hits home and it’s pretty sweet.’’

Not since Alberto Salazar won his third straight crown in 1982 had a Yank broken the tape in Central Park and not since 1979 had there been so many in the top 10, including Ryan Hall (fourth), Jorge Torres (seventh), Nick Arciniaga (eighth), Abdi Abdirahman (ninth), and Jason Lehmkuhle (10th). “A wonderful day for myself and the rest of the American guys,’’ declared Keflezighi, who collected $200,000 for winning his first laurel wreath in any town - the $130,000 winner’s payout, $40,000 for winning the US title, and $30,000 for going under 2:09:30.

It was a historic day, too, for Ethiopia, which produced its first women’s champion here when Derartu Tulu outkicked Russia’s Ludmila Petrova in the final half-mile to win by eight seconds in 2 hours 28 minutes 52 seconds on a day when three-time champion Paula Radcliffe of Britain was undone by knee tendinitis and ended up fourth behind surprising Christelle Daunay of France.