New York City was filled with anxious competitors and excited spectators on Sunday as the 43rd ING New York City Marathon returned to the five boroughs.
The aftermath of Hurricane Sandy caused the cancellation last year two days before the race was supposed to occur. Months later, the Boston Marathon bombing caused devastation at another important event for runners and fans alike.
After a year of setbacks in terms of marathon running, the ING NYC Marathon set a world-record number of finishers with 50,304. Many ran to raise money for charity and awareness. Some were dressed in full costume.
The top male finisher was Geoffrey Mutai of Kenya in 2:08:24, while the top female finisher was Priscah Jeptoo of Kenya in 2:25:07. Seven countries were represented in the top 10 women and six countries were represented in the top 10 men.
In response to the Boston marathon bombing, NYPD were lined all along the 26.2 mile course. Helicopters hovered low over the event.
Spectators could not get within the last 400 meters of the course without going through an intense security search. In addition, fans with backpacks along the course were often asked to open their bags to be searched by police.
In addition to the record for most runners, there were many monumental moments at the marathon. Jimmy Jenson was the first person with Down syndrome to finish the race. In addition, Jon Mendes, 93, was the oldest male runner to complete the marathon for the thirteenth time.
The oldest woman to run in the marathon was 86-year-old Joy Johnson who raced the ING NYC marathon for the 25th time. Unfortunately, she fell near the 20-mile mark and later died on Monday while sleeping in her hotel room.
Fairfield alumni and family members ran while many students flocked to the city to watch. “I love the atmosphere of being at the marathon,” stated Deirdre Simms ’16. “Everyone is upbeat and always smiling. It’s such an honor to watch these people run!”
Sophomore Kathleen Woods added, “I was really impressed by the determination on all the people. It made me excited to do it one day.”
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