Thousands, including some Olympians, hit the streets of Manhattan on Sunday morning for the New York City Half Marathon, one of the big milestones on the way to the New York City Marathon.

According to a report available Sunday at www.ny1.com, Ethiopia's Tadesse Tola, 20, edged out Kenya's Patrick Makau for the first place. Coming in third was American Dathan Ritvenhein, who will be representing the United States in Beijing next month at the Olympics.

"Four weeks from today is the men's Olympic marathon, so this is the last tune up," Ritvenheim was cited as saying. "It's great (to be the first American finisher in this race). I wish I would have been able to get up with those guys at the very front, but, they made a big move to the park and I couldn't stay with it. But, I'll take third place in Beijing if that comes along too."

"This is one of the last courses they have to race before the Olympics," Sara Hunninghake of the New York Road Runners club was quoted as saying. "We are thrilled, of course. We feel like the path to Beijing has always gone through New York, with many of our races, and this is just another one we are putting on for these pro-athletes."

On the woman's side, Catherine Ndereba of Kenya surged at the end of the race to beat Madai Perez and Yuri Kano.

Around 19,000 people applied to race, but only 10,000 were given spots.

(Xinhua News Agency July 28, 2008)