The 31-year-old double Paralympic champion was wheel to wheel with last year's runner-up going into Central Park, where he surged past his Japanese rival in the final 200 metres to win with a time of 1 hour 37min 29sec to win by two seconds.

It was the Londoner's first victory in New York and came after he missed the last three races through injury or illness and helped make up for the Virgin London Marathon in April where his chances of victory disappeared after suffering two punctures.

Extra sweet was that Austraian Kurt Fearnley, Weir's biggest rival, faded to finish third after a strong start.

Weir was confident of success having got to grips with his new £4,000 wheelchair after an intense training period in London but he started off the pace on a chilly morning in New York as Fearnley burst over the Verranzano Narrow bridge to establish an early lead.

London Marathon winner Josh Cassidy was in the lead at the five-mile stage before Weir took charge in a tight pack through Brooklyn a mile further down the course.

Weir and Soejima led a breakaway from the rest of the pack around the 18-mile mark as Fearnley faded.

Little could separate the pair as they entered Manhattan for the final stretch before Weir found some inner strength to pull ahead.

"To win this after missing out the last three times is incredible," said Weir.

"It almost brings tears to my eyes thinking about it.

"I have waited five years to get here and this is the best prepared I have ever been.

"I felt great.

"All my training has paid off and I'm glad it has all come together."



But there was disappointment for Blackpool's Shelly Woods, who finished seventh in a women's race won by Tatyana McFadden, a 21-year-old American.

"I haven't been feeling too well this week," said Woods.

"On Monday I had a stomach bug but I was okay by Thursday.

"I was just lacking energy and pace by the end."

McFadden finished in 2:02:22, nearly six minutes ahead of Christina Ripp, who clocked 2:08:05.

Ripp is better known as a basketball player, having been a member of the United States squad that won the gold medals at the 2004 and 2008 Paralympics.

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May 2010: Weir and Woods win in Manchester