Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, November 7, 1994 TAG: 9412270016
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: FROM ASSOCIATED PRESS REPORTS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Short
Silva and Paredes had been running side-by-side in front of the field for about 3 miles when the winner made his mistake.
As they approached Central Park, Silva turned off on Seventh Avenue instead of going another block and turning into the park at Eighth Avenue.
He took about 12 steps before realizing his mistake, thanks to urging from several spectators and police. Silva then reversed his course and began a frantic pursuit of Paredes.
Less than a minute from the finish, Silva had caught Paredes and went on to win in 2 hours, 11 minutes, 21 seconds.
Paredes finished in 2:11:23, only two seconds back, making this the closest finish in the race's 25-year history.
Meanwhile, Tecla Loroupe of Kenya made a sensational marathon debut, finishing first among the women at 2:27:37.
Madina Biktagirova of Russia was second at 2:29:59 and Anne Marie Letko of Glen Gardner, N.J., finished third in 2:30:18.
This was the first time the race was run without Fred Lebow, the creator of the marathon. Lebow died Oct.9 after a 4 1/2-year fight with brain cancer.
During the race, three runners were stricken with heart attacks, and two of them died. They were the first deaths at the marathon since 1983.
by CNB