Britain's Paula Radcliffe of Britain has won the New York City women's marathon for a third time.
Radcliffe, 34, led from start to finish, defending her 2007 title with a time of two hours 23 minutes 56 seconds. She also won the race in 2004.
It was her eighth win in the nine marathons she has completed.
Finishing second nearly two minutes behind was Ludmila Petrova, 40, of Russia, the 2000 winner.
The victory made Radcliffe the only woman other than nine-times winner Grete Waitz of Norway to claim more than two New York titles.
Radcliffe came 23rd in the Beijing Olympic marathon, where her training was hampered by injury.
In a dramatic finish, Marilson Gomes dos Santos of Brazil won the men's race.
Dos Santos, the 2006 winner, duelled with last year's runner-up Abderrahim Goumri over the last six miles and trailed the Moroccan as they headed for the last section of the race in Central Park.
Daniel Rono of Kenya was third. The race attracted 38,377 runners.
