Kenya continued their streak of dominance at this year’s New York City Marathon on Sunday, The New York Times reported.

Rookie Joyciline Jepkosgei, 25, helped lead the way.

Jepkosgei completed the marathon in 2 hours 22 minutes and 38 seconds, narrowly missing the fastest debut for the race. Her performance topped runner-up Mary Keitany, a fellow Kenyan and seven-time winner of major marathons, The New York Times noted.

Joyciline Jepkosgei wins New York City Marathon in debut, Geoffrey Kamworor wins second men’s title https://t.co/UuTtmDFPRs
pic.twitter.com/A9rGNntFMO

— TIME (@TIME) November 4, 2019

Jepkosgei, in an interview with The New York Times, said she was uncertain about her chances and worried that Keitany would pass her up.

“I didn’t know I could win because of my friend Mary,” Jepkosgei said. “She has more experience in the marathon, she has won a few years here in New York. I was happy to run with her.”

Under pressure, Jepkosgei prevailed and crossed the finish line with her closest competitor 50 seconds behind, according to Citizen TV Kenya.

Joyciline Jepkosgei ???????? is your 2019 #TCSNYCMarathon champion in the women’s open division!

This follows her win at the #UnitedNYCHalf in March! pic.twitter.com/kTOaf6bibT

— TCS New York City Marathon (@nycmarathon) November 3, 2019

She won $145,000 in prize money, according to The New York Daily News.

Jepkosgei has had other major successes as a runner, including a March victory at the New York City Half Marathon, Runner’s World reported.

The New York Times reported that her win on Sunday signals a changing of the guard among the women’s ranks, which is still focused on Kenyan runners.

Kamworor, also from Kenya, won the men’s race in 2 hours 8 minutes and 13 seconds. He also earned gold in the New York City race in 2017, per the Associated Press.

Kamworor’s runner-up, Albert Korir, is also Kenyan.

Marathon-Runner

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