By RACHEL COHEN
AP Sports Writer
NEW YORK (AP) - Meb Keflezighi has become the first American man to win the New York City Marathon since 1982 (in fact, six of the top ten men finishers were American).
Keflezighi, the 2004 Olympic silver medalist, earned his first major marathon title Sunday. Born in Eritrea, the 34-year-old
became a U.S. citizen in 1998.
He was second in New York in 2004 and third in 2005. Keflezighi, wearing "USA on his chest, won in 2 hours, 9 minutes, 15 seconds.
Four-time Boston Marathon champ Robert Cheruiyot of Kenya was second. Morocco's Jaouad Gharib finished third and American Ryan Hall was fourth. American Alberto Salazar won three straight NYC Marathons from 1980-82.
Derartu Tulu of Ethiopia was the women's winner, with
41-year-old Russian Ludmila Petrova the runner-up for the second
straight year (highest American woman was sixth).