Armstrong achieved his goal of running under three hours

Prokopcuka pulled away in the final four miles to run two hours 25 minutes, beating Ukraine's Tatiana Hladyr and Kenya's Catherine Ndereba third.

Brazil's Marilson Gomes dos Santos won the men's race in 2:09.58 from Kenya's Stephen Kiogora and Paul Tergat.

Seven times Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong achieved his goal of finishing in under three hours.

Armstrong, who was paced for most of the race by retired greats Alberto Salazar, Joan Benoit Samuelson and Hicham El Guerrouj, recorded two hours 59 minutes 37 seconds.

"It was amazing," the 35-year-old said. "It would have been three and a half hours without them.

"That was without a doubt the hardest physical thing I've ever done," he added.

"In 20 years of pro sports, endurance sports, from triathlons to cycling, all the Tours, even the worst days in the Tours, nothing was as hard as that, and nothing left me feeling the way I feel now in terms of just sheer fatigue and soreness.

"I wanted to break three hours, but if you told me, you know, with three miles to go, you're going to do 3:05, I didn't care. I wouldn't have cared."

Armstrong said he did not think he would run another marathon, but added: "I reserve the right to change my mind in a month."

Dos Santos, who became the first Brazilian to win in New York, mirrored Prokopcuka in his style of victory, breaking away at 19 miles from a pack that included four major marathon champions.

Prokopcuka was the first woman to win twice in a row in New York since Kenyan Tegla Loroupe in 1994-95.

Men's result:

1. Marilson dos Santos (Brz) 2:09:58
2. Stephen Kiogora (Ken) 2:10:06
3. Paul Tergat (Ken) 2:10:10
4. Daniel Yego (Ken) 2:10:34
5. Rodgers Rop (Ken) 2:11:24
6. Stefano Baldini (Ita) 2:11:33

Women's result:

1. Jelena Prokopcuka (Lat) two hours 25 minutes 5 seconds
2. Tetyana Hladyr (Ukr) 2:26:05
3. Catherine Ndereba (Ken) 2:26:58
4. Rita Jeptoo (Ken) 2:26:59
5. Lidiya Grigoryeva (Rus) 2:27:21
6. Deena Kastor (US) 2:27:54