Sarah Porter finishes 22nd in pro marathon debut in New York...

NEW YORK--Running in her professional debut over the marathon distance, Western Washington University graduate Sarah Porter (left/photo courtesy New York Road Runners) finished 22nd at the ING New York City Marathon in a time of 2:44:25.

Porter started conservatively, staying around 6:00 mile pace, crossing the half marathon mark in 1:18:19, a projected pace of 2:36:38.

At the 30 k mark, she went through in 1:33:40, slowing down slightly to 6:02 mile pace.

As it seemed inevitable, especially with neophyte marathoners, the wheels slowly began to fall off the wagon, as Porter ran the last 12-plus kilometers in 1:10.45.

Until the 20 mile mark, which many runners call the half-way point of the 26+ mile distance, she was on 6 minute pace pace, when it dropped to around 6:52 at the 21 mile mark. She was able to rally slightly, running the last mile in approximately 6:49.

Porter, by virtue of her track 10000 time, had a qualifying mark for January's US Olympic Marathon Trials in Houston, but was intrigued by the notion of actually running the race.

Former University of Washington steeplechaser and two-time Swiss Olympian Christian Belz finished 26th in the elite men's race, running 2:33:36.

In an epic women's race, Firehiwot Dado of Ethiopia caught early leader Mary Keitany of Kenya, who had at one point built a lead of over two minutes, to win in a time of 2:23:15, as Keitany was also caught in Central Park by Buzunesh Deba of Ethiopia, finishing second in 2:23:19.

Keitany hung on for third place in 2:23:39.

In the men's race, Boston Marathon champ Geoffrey Mutai of Kenya powered to the victory, running a course record of 2:05:26, defeating compatriot Emmanuel Mutai (no relation), who crossed in 2:06:28.

Tsegaye Kebede of Ethiopia was third in 2:07:14.

Results from the ING New York City Marathon are available via ingnycmarathon.org.