RIGA - Latvia's Jelena Prokopcuka earned her second title as New York Marathon champion on Nov. 5, becoming the first athlete in 11 years to win the prestigious race twice in a row. Prokopcuka finished with a time of 2 hours, 25 minutes and five seconds, a full minute ahead of second-place winner Tatiana Hladyr of Ukraine.
The two Eastern European athletes were mid-pack for the first 13 miles, until both women pulled ahead of the tight group at the half-marathon mark.
Throughout the rest of the race, Prokopcuka and Hladyr traded the lead, until the Latvian broke free in the last few minutes and coasted to victory.
Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga congratulated Prokopcuka on her repeated victory in the prestigious New York Marathon, saying the runner's achievement was "a unique assurance of her abilities and a grand moment of pride for Latvia."
Although seconds shy of beating her time in last year's marathon (2:24:41), the Latvian was proud of her results.
"I was very, very happy," Prokopcuka told The Boston Globe. "It was a sweet victory."
The last woman to win the marathon two years consecutively was Tegla Loroupe of Kenya in 1994 and 1995. Only three other women in the race's history have won consecutive titles: Nina Kuscsik (1972, '73), Miki Gorman (1976, '77), and Grete Waitz (1978-80 and 1982-86, and 1988).
Prokopcuka now leads the World Marathon Majors series standings with 40 points. She earned 25 points for winning in New York, and 15 for finishing second at the Boston Marathon last April. The Latvian will receive $130,000 for her victory.
"I wanted to do it and I did it," Prokopcuka said after the race, a Latvian flag draped around her shoulders.
