Mara Yamauchi’s bid to win her first ING New York Marathon ended in disappointment as she finished 13th position behind Kenyan winner Edna Kiplagat yesterday.

Kiplagat claimed victory after successfully holding off the charge of debutantes Mary Keitany and Shalane Flanagan to win with a time of 2hrs 28mins 20secs after a competitive race on a cold morning in the Big Apple.

Yamauchi, who hails from Oxford, had been installed as one of the favourites for the race, but after a bright start, which had seen her lead a strong field after ten miles, she faded to finish with a time of 2.31.38.

The time was more than eight minutes short of her personal best and ended a disappointing week which had begun with much promise for the Kenya-born runner.

Yamauchi started well, leading from the front as the 55-strong field crossed Verranzano Narrow bridge.

However, Yamauchi started to drift off the pace with six miles remaining as Keitany and Flanagan led a group of eight runners who broke away as the race entered the Bronx.

Yamauchi was nowhere to be seen as the leading trio went up Fifth Avenue into Central Park towards the end of the race.

Yamauchi, meanwhile had dropped back even further in the field and had to settle for 13th position in her last run of the season.

In the men’s event, world record holder Haile Gebrselassie announced his retirement from the sport after limping out before watching his countryman Gebre Gebremarium storm to victory on his first appearance in the race.

The 37-year-old, from Ethiopia, said afterwards: “I am retiring. It’s time to step away and give chances to the youngsters.”

Gebrselassie set the world record of 2.03.59 seconds in Berlin in 2008.