( 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 . But Ngetich never stopped moving forward . With members of the race team 's medical staff walking on all sides cheering her on , Ngetich crawled to the finish line . `` As bad as it looks , we knew she was prepared to finish , '' Conley said . With just 2 meters left for her to crawl , Ngetich was passed by second place finisher Hannah Steffan . Ngetich placed third , with a time of 3:04:02 . Conley said Ngetich 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 . She was immediately rushed to a medical tent , where she was treated for dangerously low blood sugar , Conley said . Ngetich told CNN affiliate KEYE she does n't remember finishing the race . Her `` exceptional effort , '' inspired applause from nearly every marathon spectator and inspired Conley to adjust her prize money so she receives the same amount of money as if she 'd come in second . `` You ran the bravest race and crawled the bravest crawl I have ever seen in my life , '' Conley said to Ngetich on Sunday night , `` You have earned much honor . '' Ngetich said it 's just what she does . `` In running , you have to keep going , '' she said .
Hyvon Ngetich had led most of the race . She placed third after crawling to finish line . Ngetich collapsed because of dangerously low blood sugar .