Derartu Tulu of Ethiopia won the New York City Marathon Sunday, pulling away in the final mile to beat Russian Ludmila Petrova to win in 2hr 28min 52sec.

Petrova, 41, finished second for the second year in a row, in 2:29:00, and France's Christelle Daunay was third in 2:29:16.

Two-time defending champion Paula Radcliffe of Britain was fourth.

Radcliffe, the world record-holder, faded from the lead group at the 22nd mile mark, and clutched her left leg after finishing in 2:29:27.

Tulu, 37, won Olympic 10,000m gold in 1992 and 2000, and took bronze at the 2004 Athens Games.

She also captured World Championship gold at 10,000m in 2001 - the same year she finished third in the London Marathon.

She improved on her previous best New York City Marathon finish - a third place in her only previous appearance in 2005.