Meb Keflezighi, a 34-year-old American, won the New York City Marathon Sunday, marking the first time in nearly three decades that an American has captured the prestigious running trophy.

Keflezighi, who crossed the finish line of the 26.2-mile course with a personal best time of 2:09:15, emigrated with his family to San Diego from war-ravaged Eritrea in 1987. He became a U.S. citizen in 1998.

He won a silver medal at the 2004 Olympics and was the runner-up in the New York marathon that year.

Sunday’s female marathon winner, 37-year-old Derartu Tulu of Ethiopia, pulled ahead of Russia’s Ludmila Petrova in the last leg of the race, sprinting to victory with a time of 2:28:52.

Tulu, a two-time Olympic gold medalist in the 10,000-meter race in 1992 and 2000, won the London marathon in 2001.