Twice during the New York City Marathon, John Kagwe stopped to tie his flapping shoelace. When it came loose again four miles from the finish, the Kenyan decided to forget about it.

"I said even if I lost my shoe, I wouldn't worry," Kagwe said.The loose lace didn't trip him up, and Kagwe won the race in near-record time Sunday, using patience and experience to outlast his more heavily favored countrymen.

If Kagwe's win was surprising, even more shocking was the first-place finish by Franziska Rochat-Moser of Switzerland for the women.

The favorites, two-time champions German Silva of Mexico and Tegla Loroupe of Kenya, faded over the closing stages. Silva wound up a distant fifth among the men and Loroupe was seventh among the women.

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It was the second consecutive year for upset winners, following the 1996 triumphs by Giacomo Leone of Italy and Anuta Catuna of Romania. Leone did not defend his title this year, while Catuna finished fourth.

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