DISTANCE RUNNING Blind runner fifth in NYC Marathon

Marla Runyan was the highest-finishing American. Kenya swept both races.
NEW YORK (AP) -- Marla Runyan's first New York City Marathon was accompanied by a symphony of yells.
"We're approaching the bridge in 150 meters!" she'd hear from the cyclist riding just behind her. "Your bottle is there at the end!" would come from the person assigned to assist the legally blind Runyan at the drink stations.
And then there were the enthusiastic spectators.
"I heard my name a lot out there. I even heard a 'Martha! ' " Runyan said with a laugh.
Bringing her fluid strides and noted determination to a 26.2-mile race for the first time, Runyan finished first among U.S. women and fifth overall behind winner Joyce Chepchumba of Kenya.
"I'm very pleased with how I did," said Runyan, the first Paralympian to compete in the Olympics. "You never know if you prepared properly, how the weather will affect you, how the distance will affect you."
Sweep for Kenyans
With temperatures in the 40s and a slight headwind, Boston Marathon champion Rodgers Rop overcame pain in his side to finish in 2 hours, 8 minutes, 7 seconds, helping Kenya gain its first sweep of the men's and women's titles. Christopher Cheboiboch (2:08:17) -- also second in Boston -- and Laban Kipkemboi (2:08:39) gave Kenya the first 1-2-3 men's finish for a country since 1975, when the United States did it.
Rop became the fourth man to win at Boston and New York in the same year. His only other marathon was New York last year, when he had muscle cramps and finished third behind Tesfaye Jifar (who dropped out at the 15-mile mark with stomach problems Sunday).
Chepchumba, the Olympic bronze medalist, finished in 2:25:56 -- and was first across the finish in Central Park, because the elite women started about 30 minutes before the men. Los Angeles Marathon champion Lyubov Denisova of Russia was 21 seconds behind. Olivera Jevtic of Yugoslavia was third, despite cutting and bruising her elbows and knees in a fall. Esther Kiplagat of Kenya was fourth.
Runyan was next in 2:27:10, 36 seconds ahead of defending champion Margaret Okayo, who set the course record last year but had back problems Sunday.
Unlike the repetitive laps she's used to on the track, Runyan had to contend with odd turns, five bridges, inclines, declines, and uneven street paving.
"There are some rough spots out there -- you just jump over them," she said with a shrug.
Provided assistance
A degenerative eye condition known as Stargardt's disease limits her sight to about 15 feet, although she can't read a watch, for example, while she is running. That's why race organizers provided two people to tell Runyan what other competitors could see.
"She obviously knows what she is doing. She's well prepared and trained," said Sonia O'Sullivan, the Olympic silver medalist at 5,000 meters who was 12th Sunday.
"Marla ran really well. She was running strongly throughout the race. The race was perfect for her. It was a pace that she wanted to run."
Runyan proudly points out that she's never fallen in competition and she had no problems when, about 10 miles in, European champion Maria Guida crossed her path. They touched briefly, stumbling a bit, and Guida wound up dropping out shortly after.
Not Runyan, who said: "Something as small as that in such a long race was not that significant."
She stayed with the leading pack off and on throughout. It helped that the course was less crowded because of the earlier start for women. A few times, Runyan faded, only to find a burst that carried her within range.