New York City Marathon

New York, NY

November 1, 1998

In the closest three-person finish in the history of the New York City Marathon, defending champion John Kagwe of Kenya edged fellow Kenyan Joseph Chebet by three seconds - 2:08:45 to 2:08:48 - with Zebedayo Bayo of Tanzania trailing by another three seconds.

With three miles to go, the three pulled away from a pack of some six or seven other contenders and ran together until the final stretch in Central Park. As Bayo faded slightly, Kagwe outkicked Chebet for the win and the first-place prize of $50,000 and a new automobile. In addition, Kagwe picked up an additional time bonus of $35,000.

Thirty-three year old Franca Fiacconi, finishing in 2:25:17 which was good for 43rd place overall, became the first Italian woman to capture New York. Fiacconi, who had placed second in New York in 1996 and third last year, took the lead before the halfway mark and ran unchallenged for the balance of the race. Like Kagwe, she claimed a $50,000/new car first-prize to which was added $25,000 in time bonus money.

Results (Top 25): 

    1	John Kagwe		29 KEN		2:08:45  
    2	Joseph Chebet		28 KEN		2:08:48 
    3	Zebedayo Bayo		22 TAN		2:08:51  
    4	German Silva		30 MEX		2:10:24 
    5	Vanderlei Lima		29 BRA		2:10:42  
    6	Roberto Barbi		33 ITA		2:10:55  
    7	Simon Chemoiyo		28 KEN		2:11:08 
    8	Peter Githuka		29 KEN  	2:11:20  
    9	Shem Kororia		26 KEN		2:11:27  
   10	Jonathan Ndambuki	22 KEN  	2:11:30  
   11	Leonid Shvetsov		29 RUS		2:11:50  
   12	Robert Stefko		30 SLV  	2:12:52  
   13	Fred Kiprop		24 KEN		2:13:32  
   14	Daniel Too Kirwa	21 KEN  	2:13:54  
   15	Gemechu Kebede		27 ETH		2:15:04  
   16	Tesfaye Bekele		27 NY   	2:15:23  
   17	Isidro Rico		37 MEX  	2:15:52  
   18	Alfredo Vigueras	35 CA   	2:16:14  
   19	Orlando Guerrero	32 COL  	2:16:47  
   20	Peter Ndirangu		27 KEN  	2:16:59  
   21	Martin Mondragon	44 MEX 		2:18:16  
   22	Dave Scudamore		28 CA		2:18:20  
   23	Julius Bitok		21 KEN		2:19:22  
   24	Francesco Ingargiola	25 ITA		2:19:57  
   25	Anthony Graham		35 GBR		2:20:13  


Top 5 Women:


   1 (43)	Franca Fiacconi		33 ITA		2:25:17  
   2 (50)	Adriana Fernandez	27 MEX		2:26:33  
   3 (75)	Tegla Loroupe		25 KEN		2:30:28  
   4 (79)	Ludmila Petrova		30 RUS		2:31:09  
   5 (95)	 Franziska Rochat-Moser	32 SUI		2:32:37
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