(CNN)Lifelong runner and Austin Marathon race director John Conley has been a part of many races, but none of the finishes he's been a part of quite compare to what he saw Sunday in Texas. "What we saw was a champion," Conley said. "The toughest person on the planet." Conley's not talking about Cynthia Jerop, the women's winner, who finished the 26.2-mile race in 2:54:21. He'd expected to see Kenyan runner Hyvon Ngetich. According to reports he'd received from the race course, she had been leading most of the race. But with just two-tenths of a mile left to run, Ngetich began to wobble and stagger, and eventually fell down. She attempted to get back up and keep running but was unsuccessful, Conley said.
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Hyvon Ngetich had led most of the race
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She placed third after crawling to finish line
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Ngetich collapsed because of dangerously low blood sugar
Hyvon Ngetich
Ngetich
Hyvon Ngetich
Ngetich
Conley said @placeholder crawled more than 400 meters (1,312 feet) to cross the finish line, leaving her knees and elbows bloodied and her hands stained from the pavement.
John Conley
Conley
Conley
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Her "exceptional effort," inspired applause from nearly every marathon spectator and inspired @placeholder to adjust her prize money so she receives the same amount of money as if she'd come in second.