Martin Lel beat last year's champion Rodgers Rop into second place

Compatriot and last year's winner Rodgers Rop was second, while Christopher Cheboiboch made it a one-two-three for Kenya.

Kenya were also celebrating in the women's race which was won by Margaret Okayo in a course record of 2:22.31.

Fellow Kenyan Catherine Ndereba was second with Lorna Kaplagat of the Netherlands third.

Lel said: "There were so many champions in this race, I was scared when I turned round to see them behind me.

"I was so surprised that I crossed the line first. I didn't know whether I would be able to drop Rodgers like that."

Lel, the world half-marathon champion, triumphed after breaking the will of Rop in an exciting finish in Manhattan's Central Park.

The result ensured Rop failed in his bid to become the first man since Kenyan John Kagwe in 1998 to claim back-to-back New York wins.

Okayo shattered her own previous course record of 2:24.21 by nearly two minutes.

"I didn't aim to break the record, but I felt good and strong all the way through," she said.

Okayo, the 2001 champion, has a good record in the United States, having also won the 2002 Boston Marathon.

Earlier, Zebedayo Bayo of Tanzania won the 21st Athens Classic Marathon on Sunday in 2:16.59.

Stephen Rugut of Kenya came in second in 2:17.06, while Holland's Nadja Wijenberg won the women's race in 2:43.18.

The difficult, undulating course will be used in next year's Olympic Games.

New York men's result:
1. Martin Lel (Ken) 2:10.30
2. Rodgers Rop (Ken) 2:11:11
3. Christopher Cheboiboch (Ken) 2:11:23

New York women's result:
1. Margaret Okayo (Ken) 2:22.31 (course record)
2. Catherine Ndereba (Ken) 2:23:04
3. Lornah Kiplagat (Ned) 2:23:43