Mary Keitany’s Three-Year-Old Daughter Gives Mom All the Racing Advice She Needed: “Good Luck and Try Not to Fall Down”
by LetsRun.com
November 6, 2016
NEW YORK —Mary Keitany of Kenya was dominant today and the total class of the field as she won her third straight New York City Marathon in 2:24:26 with the largest winning margin (3:35) since 1984.
At the post-race press conference, Keitany seemed amused at the journalists’ questions when they asked about her strategy. Some wanted to know if she was worried she made her move too early when she broke away during the 15th mile (Keitany blew up in 2011 in NY).
With the way she ran today and the margin of victory, Keitany likely could have picked any strategy out of a hat and come away the winner.
Mary Keitany, her husband Charles Koech and kids Jared (8) and Samantha (3)
Keitany’s three-year-old daughter Samantha may have had the best strategy for Keitany today telling her, “Mom, good luck and try not to fall down.” Keitany fell in London this year and faded to 9th afterwards causing the Kenyan selectors to foolishly leave her off the Olympic marathon team.
Keitany stayed on her feet today and was back to her winning ways. One could argue that Jemima Sumgong of Kenya, who has won the London Marathon and the Olympics this year, is the best marathoner in the world right now but no one can dispute Keitany’s dominance in New York. This was her third straight New York win. When asked if she could win a fourth or fifth New York title Keitany said with a bemused smile on her face, “Maybe. Yes.”
There’s little reason to doubt that after today.