Having to make an unexpected stop around the halfway mark may have cost New Zealand distance runner Kimberley Smith a chance of improving on her outstanding fifth in the New York marathon.
Smith finished in 2hr 29m 28s and says by then she could've used the energy she expended having to catch up, although the slow start helped.
When Smith ran a New Zealand record 2h 25m 21s in London in April the top runners went through the half in 71 minutes, more than five minutes faster than in New York.
Edna Kiplagat won in 2h 28m 20s, 20 seconds ahead of America's Shalane Flanagan, who finished second with another Kenyan Mary Keitany third.
Russia's Inga Abitova was fourth, 11 seconds ahead of Smith.
