USA: MARATHON - Winners of the New York City Marathon discuss their thoughts and physical condition one day after the race

The male and female winners of New York City marathon, Brazil's Marilson Gomes dos Santos and Latvia's Jelena Prokopcuka, held a news conference on Monday (November 06) to speak about their performances on Sunday's race. Gomes, who became the first South American to win the New York City Marathon, finished his first marathon victory ahead of four pursuing Kenyans with a time of two hours, nine minutes, 58 seconds. "It has a very large significance because it's a high-level test, a test that is very popular worldwide, so to me it's of an extraordinary significance," said Gomes. Many runners say that they feel the physical pain of running a marathon the day after the race. Gomes said that fatigue has settled in, but the excitement about his win outweighs any discomfort. "In a bit of pain, which is normal after a marathon, but I'm happy, content that I won and that's more important," he said. The male and female winners made early moves that were not seriously challenged on a calm, cool day that provided ideal conditions for the 38,368 runners entered in the race. Prokopcuka, who retained her female title championship, blew kisses and waved to the Central Park crowd as she won in two hours 25 minutes five seconds. She finished exactly one minute ahead of Tatiana Hladyr of Ukraine, winner of this year's Rome Marathon. "I wanted to win the second time very much and I'm happy that I've accomplished it. It's a great feeling; I'm in seventh heaven," said Prokopcuka. The Latvian became the first woman to repeat as New York champion since Tegla Loroupe of Kenya in 1995. Prokopcuka said that she's not planning her next race at this time; instead, she just wants to recuperate from this one. "I need more walking, bicycling, swimming pool, and good feelings, good emotions. Everything will be okay after one week," she said. Also at the news conference was Australian Kurt Fearnley, who won the marathon men's wheelchair race. Fearnley led from start to finish and won in a course-record time of 1:29:22, more than six minutes in front of runner-up Aaron Gordian Minz of Mexico (1:35:30). Fearnley's victory was uneventful save for taking spill just before the halfway mark. Fearnley said that the New York marathon is one of the most challenging for those in wheelchairs. "You know, I think I'm sore, and kind of affected more by this marathon than any other. So it's tough; the corners, the hills, the bumpy roads. It is a hard course and it's very taxing on the body," he said The marathon winners each took away a to prize of $130,000 dollars.

ITN Source | November 8, 2006

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