Athletics: Jelena Prokopcuka of Latvia won the New York City Marathon and its $130,000 top prize yesterday in commanding fashion, becoming the first woman to repeat as champion in 11 years.

Prokopcuka, blowing kisses and waving to the Central Park crowd at the finish, ran an unofficial time of two hours 25 minutes five seconds to win by one minute over Tatiana Hladyr of Ukraine, winner of this year's Rome Marathon.

Catherine Ndereba of Kenya was third, snapping her streak of finishing first or second in her last 15 marathons.

Prokopcuka became the first woman to repeat as New York champion since Tegla Loroupe of Kenya in 1995.

In the men's race, Marilson Gomes dos Santos broke away from the pack with about six miles to go to become the first Brazilian to win the New York City Marathon.

Gomes won the men's race in two hours, nine minutes and 58 seconds to claim the $130,000 top prize ahead of four Kenyans.