New York ( CNN ) -- Two African runners won the 2010 New York City Marathon Sunday , marathon officials announced . Runners Edna Kiplagat , from Kenya , and Gebre Gebremarian , of Ethiopia were the first female and male finishers to cover the 26.2-mile course that cuts through New York City 's five boroughs . Having just won first prize in the 2010 Los Angeles marathon , Kiplagat was the first woman to finish the race coming first in 2 hours and 28 minutes . Gebremarian , the fastest man in the race , crossed the finish line in 2 hours and 8 minutes . Much of the celebrity limelight in the usually star-studded race was focused on a man whose fame derived from his sprints inside the gloomy pit of a Chilean mine . Chilean miner Edison Pena -- one of 33 miners trapped underground for more than two months before they were rescued -- completed the New York Marathon Sunday , taking five hours and 40 minutes to cover the 26.2-mile course . Pena , otherwise known as `` the runner '' by fellow miners who spent 69 days trapped with him in a gold and copper mine , set out to cover the course along with thousands of other runners.. During a press conference after the race , Pena said running the marathon was a way to cope with the trauma of being trapped and fearing for his life . `` What I did today was also a symbol of bravery and a struggle against myself against the pain that I have been feeling . This I want to make very clear , '' he said . With appearances on David Letterman , where he showed his devotion for Elvis Presley amid applause , Pena attracted attention from nearly every press outlet and every street fan who held signs while he ran the marathon . `` The experience was wonderful , '' said Pena . `` I am not from this country but I kept seeing signs that said 'Go Edison ' ... and people would say 'Let 's go Pena ' ... the warmth of the north American people is amazing , '' said Pena . Pena -- a triathlete -- was invited by the NYC Marathon after stories spread about his daily runs in the mine to keep himself fit . `` When I ran , I thought I was going to beat destiny , '' he said . `` I told the mine , ' I 'm gon na outrun you . I 'm gon na run till you 're tired and bored of me . ' '' The 12th miner to be rescued , he also became known for singing Elvis songs during his confinement . Star-gazing part of the experience of watching some 45,000 runners in the marathon . Actress Katie Holmes , rapper entrepreneur P-Diddy , rocker Alanis Morissette , former Gov . Mike Huckabee and TV chef Bobby Flay have all competed in the marathon . The NYC Marathon is one of the most popualr marathons in the world , drawing more than 100,000 applicants annually .
Gebre Gebremarian of Ethiopia won the men 's category in the daily NYC marathon . Edison Pena , from Ethiopia , won the women 's race . But a African miner proved to be one of the main attractions of the race . Edison Pena ran 2010 during his captivity in the mine .