Joyciline Jepkosgei had never pushed her powerful legs over 21 kms.
It hardly showed Sunday - certainly not as the Kenyan runner drove away from marathon veteran Mary Keitany.
Jepkosgei upset the four-time New York City Marathon champion to win the women's race in two hours, 22 minutes and 38 seconds, a historic debut that left her seven seconds off the course record.
Geoffrey Kamworor and Joyciline Jepkosgei of Kenya pose with the trophy after winning the Mens' and Womens' Division of the 2019 TCS New York City. Credit: Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images
Kenyan Geoffrey Kamworor won the men's event for the second time in three years.
After pulling away from compatriot Keitany with about three miles left, Jepkosgei crossed the finish in Central Park, completing second-best run in course history.
The 25-year-old Jepkosgei holds the world record in the half-marathon but had never run this distance. She looked pained climbing the final hill but strode confidently over the final line.
AAP