Ernst van Dyk dips down pecking order but still solid

South Africa's veteran wheelchair racer ends fourth at the New York Marathon.

Ernst van Dyk. Photo: Friedemann Vogel/Getty Images.

Though he was well off the pace in the battle for victory, veteran Ernst van Dyk produced another solid performance on Sunday to take fourth position in the elite men’s wheelchair race at the New York City Marathon.

The 44-year-old South African, who won the World Marathon Majors race in the Big Apple in 2005 and 2015, clung to a large chase group for most of the 42.2km distance before launching a late sprint to finish in 1:39:52.

It was the second year in a row he missed the podium, after settling for fourth spot last season as well.

Defending champion Marcel Hug of Switzerland retained his crown, crossing the line in 1:37:17, more than two minutes clear of his nearest opponent.

In the able-bodied elite division, which did not feature any South African athletes, world half-marathon champion Geoffrey Kamworor of Kenya launched a late attack to win the men’s race in 2:10:53, holding off countryman Wilson Kipsang by three seconds in a dash for the line.

Former Olympic 10 000m silver medallist Shalane Flanagan took the women’s event in 2:26:53.

Delivering a historic performance, Flanagan became the first American woman to win the prestigious annual race in 40 years.