It had been 27 years since an American, Alberto Salazar, last won the 26.2-mile race through New York's five boroughs. So when Keflezighi crossed the finish line first, he immediately broke into tears.
"Fred R. Conrad is usually assigned to photograph the New York City Marathon. Each year he likes to capture the race with a different theme. This year was no exception."
"Click through the images below to witness the joy and pain of 26.2 miles exhibited on the faces of the runners who finished the 2009 New York City Marathon. Use the timeline to view photos from throughout the day."