A reader writes

Hi! In case you missed it, Meb Keflizighi, ORIGINALLY FROM ERITREA, just became the first American to win the New York City Marathon in 25 years! Hurray for immigration!

It happens that the last "American" to win was Alberto Salazar, born in Cuba. The last regular American to win (to use Archie Bunker's terminology) was Bill Rodgers, who ran in the 70's before the sport was professionalized. He said recently that

"It's a totally different world," says Rodgers, whose only payout in Boston ($12,500) came when he finished fourth in 1986, the first year that prize money was offered. "I was on the edge of amateur and professional. It's a tough era now. The Kenyans, Ethiopians, Moroccans . . . whew!"

Table of winners below

1982	Alberto Salazar	United States	2:09:29	3rd Victory
1983	Rod Dixon	New Zealand	2:08:59
1984	Orlando Pizzolato	Italy	2:14:53
1985	Orlando Pizzolato	Italy	2:11:34	2nd Victory
1986	Gianni Poli	Italy	2:11:06
1987	Ibrahim Hussein	Kenya	2:11:01
1988	Steve Jones	United Kingdom	2:08:20
1989	Juma Ikangaa	Tanzania	2:08:01	Course Record
1990	Douglas Wakiihuri	Kenya	2:12:39
1991	Salvador Garcia	Mexico	2:09:28
1992	Willie Mtolo	South Africa	2:09:29
1993	Andr?©s Espinosa	Mexico	2:10:04
1994	Germ??n Silva	Mexico	2:11:21
1995	Germ??n Silva	Mexico	2:11:00	2nd Victory
1996	Giacomo Leone	Italy	2:09:54
1997	John Kagwe	Kenya	2:08:12
1998	John Kagwe	Kenya	2:08:45	2nd Victory
1999	Joseph Chebet	Kenya	2:09:14
2000	Abdelkader El Mouaziz	Morocco	2:10:09
2001	Tesfaye Jifar	Ethiopia	2:07:43 CR	Course Record
2002	Rodgers Rop	Kenya	2:08:07
2003	Martin Lel	Kenya	2:10:30
2004	Hendrick Ramaala	South Africa	2:09:28
2005	Paul Tergat	Kenya	2:09:30
2006	Mar?­lson Gomes dos Santos	Brazil	2:09:58
2007	Martin Lel	Kenya	2:09:04	2nd Victory
2008	Mar?­lson Gomes dos Santos	Brazil	2:08:43	2nd Victory
2009	Meb Keflezighi	USA	2:09:15