Fionnuala McCormack secured a top-ten finish in Sunday's TCS New York City marathon, crossing the line in a time of two hours 27 minutes, the fifth fastest time of her career.
McCormack, who placed ninth in the World Championships in Tokyo just seven weeks ago, reached the halfway mark in 72 minutes, sitting in 13th position, just outside of the top ten.
The mother of three was just one minute behind the leaders at that point, with three-time Olympic medallist Hellen Obiri of Kenya, the early pace setter along with a group that included Sifan Hassan and Vivian Cheruyiot.
The Wicklow native was almost four minutes shy of her 2:23.46 personal best for the distance which she set in Valencia in December last year.
Two years ago, McCormack ran a 2:26 marathon in Valenica and then finished fourth in the European Cross Country Championships just seven days later.
With a few additional recovery weeks before this year's edition in Portugal on 14 December, the Wicklow native could well make an appearance in the Irish vest before the year is out.
Obiri was the eventual winner only managing to shake off her country woman Sharon Lokedi in the last 800m, crossing in 2:17.41, a new course record. Lokedi, who got the better of Obiri in Boston in the spring finished just 16 seconds behind.
Sheila Chepkirui, also of Kenya, was third in 2:20.24.
American national record holder Emily Sisson finished in eighth position in a time of 2:25.05.
Sisson, who represented the United States in the Olympics last year, is married to Irishman Shane Quinn and splits her time between the US and his native Waterford. She even clocked a sub-15 minute 5k at The Streets of Kilkenny race in June.
There was a Kenyan clean sweep of the podium as Benson Kipruto survived a thrilling sprint finish to take the men's race in two hours eight minutes and nine seconds.
Kipruto ran flat out through the final 50 metres to hold off a late fight from Alexander Mutiso, breaking the tape by a fraction of a second in a photo finish, with the 2021 winner Albert Korir finishing third (2:08:57).
The five-borough classic capped the World Marathon Majors calendar for the year.
Additional reporting Reuters
