Stanley Biwott powered to the biggest victory of his career at the New York Marathon, while there was a sense of deja vu as his Kenyan compatriot Mary Keitany defended the women's title.

Biwott was involved in a thrilling three-way battle alongside Geoffrey Kamworor and last year's runner-up Lelisa Desisa before powering clear in the last two miles.

Last year's winner Wilson Kipsang - who 12 months ago became the first man to win the London, Berlin and New York Marathons - had been running along nicely with the trio but got dropped around the 19-mile mark.

As the race progressed there appeared little to split the leading trio, but Desisa - winner of the Boston Marathon - started to fade and came third, with Kamworor second.

Biwott, the 2012 Paris Marathon winner and a runner-up in London in 2014, then opted to make his move and it proved a brilliantly timed surge as he crossed the line in a time of two hours 10 minutes and 34 seconds.

In the women's race Keitany became the first back-to-back winner since three-time victor Paul Radcliffe's triumphs in 2007 and 2008.

Last year Keitany outlasted Jemima Sumgong by a mere three seconds in an enthralling finish, but it was a far more comfortable victory this time around.

The Kenyan had a 45-second lead over the chasing pack by 23 miles and ran the final stages alone to break the tape in a time of 2:24:25.

Aselefech Mergia made a late move to take second place, while Mestawet Tufa was third.