NEW YORK — You never forget your first, and surely Sharon Lokedi will never forget her latest Sunday morning in Manhattan. The 28-year-old Kenyan woman, who lives in Arizona, won her first New York City Marathon in her first try, taking home the title in 2 hours, 23 minutes, 23 seconds at the latest running of the famous 26.2-mile, five-borough gauntlet.
“I didn’t expect to win,” Lokedi said. “I expected to run well. But, it ended up being a good outcome, so I’m excited.”
The race, Lokedi’s first professional marathon anywhere, marked the eighth time a runner has won the New York City Marathon in their true marathon debut. Earlier this year, Lokedi finished second in the New York Mini 10K in 30:52, third in the B.A.A. 5K in 15:16, and fourth in the NYC Half Marathon in 1:08.14.
