Paula Radcliffe led from start to finish to win the ING New York City Marathon women's race for the third time in a time of two hours 23 minutes and 55 seconds.

Radcliffe won by 1min 49secs from 40-year-old Ludmila Petrova of Russia in 2hrs 25mins 44secs, who held off a strong finish from Kara Goucher of the United States, the American taking third on her marathon debut in 2:26.58.

Marilson Gomes dos Santos of Brazil won the men's race, reclaiming the title he first won in 2006.

Gomes dos Santos clocked an unofficial 2:08:43 to win from Abderrahim Goumri of Morocco, the 2007 runner-up in both New York and London, who lost the lead a mile from home and whose time was 2:09:07. Daniel Rono of Kenya was third in 2:11:22.