NYC Marathon Priscah Jeptoo Geoffrey Mutai of Kenya win womens and mens ...

Priscah Jeptoo and Geoffrey Mutai have won the women s and men s titles in the New York City Marathon in its triumphant return after a 1 year hiatus.

The two Kenyans waved their flag in celebration while thousands cheered in Central Park.

Jeptoo 29 overtook Bronx resident Buzubesh Deba with an impressive final kick and sped across the finish line to thunderous applause clocking in at 2 hours 25 minutes and 7 seconds for the grueling 26.2 mile race.

Deba 26 finished second for the second straight time having claimed No. 2 in 2011 as well.

Jeptoo trailed the Ethiopian born Deba by more than three minutes halfway through. But she made her move as the race entered Manhattan and passed Deba with more than two miles to go.

Andrew Savulich/New York Daily News Geoffrey Mutai crosses the finish line Sunday to capture the NYC Marathon.

Mutai 32 ran away with the men s crown powering through the home stretch amid autumn foliage to break the tape at 2 08 24.

Nearly 50 000 runners are making their way through the five boroughs with tenfold that number of fans and security officials lining the route to ensure safety.

Police officers were everywhere several race fans told the Daily News with foot patrols on many street corners in response to the bombings at the Boston Marathon earlier this year.

Helicopters hovered over the starting village all morning and the NYPD said it was the first year that metal detector wands were used for everyone at the site.

But tight security or not marathon mavens said they were thrilled to welcome the runners back after missing out in 2012.

MIKE SEGAR/Reuters Geoffrey Mutai breaks the tape at 2 08 24.

Last year officials canceled the mammoth event due to the havoc wreaked by Superstorm Sandy.

My cousin said Why are you going Look what happened in Boston said Jackie Morrison 49 a tourist visiting from London said. I said This is here. This is now. You can t be scared.

Morrison like others cheering on contenders in the 26.2 mile road race said she loves the beloved event for its atmosphere.

The 43 year old marathon which kicked off in 1970 with just 127 participants now attracts competitors from around the world and boasts a live television audience of 330 million people.

It s energetic and the wheelchair athletes are so inspiring Morrison gushed looking on as American competitor Tatyana McFadden completed a historic marathon Grand Slam.

Marcus Santos/New York Daily News Priscah Jeptoo of Kenya competes in the NYC Marathon on Sunday. Her winning time was 2 hours 25 minutes and 7 seconds.

McFadden won the women s wheelchair race after also triumphing in the London Boston and Chicago marathons this year.

No other athlete has won those four races in the same year.

The 24 year old Maryland resident who was born with a spinal defect and left at a Russian orphanage as a baby was adopted by an American family.

She also won the 2010 New York City Marathon.

Mayor Bloomberg wearing an orange running jacket hung medals around the necks of the male and female winners who beamed back at Hizzoner and the crowd.

EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP/Getty Images Geoffrey Mutai heads to the finish line on route to winning the NYC Marathon.

The double win for Kenya marked the third time that the country has captured the men s and the women s race titles.

Ryan Vail of Oregon and Adriana Nelson of Colorado were the first Americans to finish in the men s and women s competitions. They both placed No. 13.

Enthusiastic supporters buoyed the spirits of tired runners as they covered mile after mile.

On 4th Ave. in Midtown Eli Zodo 55 gave air high fives at sweaty strangers jogging by.

It s really exciting to have the marathon back Zodo said. I ve been coming here for years. It was sad after what happened in Boston and the storm last year.

LUCAS JACKSON/REUTERS A runner carrying the U.S. flag and wearing a T shirt that says 'Boston Strong' crosses the Verrazano Narrows Bridge during the marathon.

They are all struggling to keep pace. But they are smiling. The marathon makes people happy.

Blue tape separated the runners from the gawkers but viewer Raul Gomez 50 still felt 100% part of the marathon action as he pointed at a participant trotting along in a Superman shirt.

Go Superman go Gomez shouted. I want to see you fly

Many in the race and alongside were remembering the storm that crippled the city last fall.

When the race got cancelled I grabbed some buddies and went down to the Jersey Shore to help out said Jan Wright a 47 year old retired police officer.

PETER FOLEY/EPA Even the runners themselves were checked by police before the start of the New York City Marathon Sunday.

Maria Murphy 55 journeyed from Toms River N.J. where she weathered Sandy last year.

There is electricity in the air said Murphy wearing a Restore the Shore sweatshirt. No one is fearful. There are police all over.

The Boston tragedy was also on the minds of many runners.

I decided nothing was going to stop me said tough Beantown resident Jen Watter 38.

What should you be scared about added Richard Lindo 58 of Bedford Stuyvesant Brooklyn. Just because something happened in Boston doesn t mean it will happen here.

There were plenty of light moments as the race wore on.

Aaron Bliss and members of his Platinum Mustache singing group trekked up I 95 from Philadelphia to serenade the runners.

We sing to them and tell them to work hard and keep going Bliss said. We also sing to them about breakups. So if someone just remembers that their girlfriend left them that will give them the fire to run faster.

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