New York, NY (SportsNetwork. Riley Sheahan Penguins Jersey .com) - The 2013-14 World Marathon Majors championship concludes on Sunday with the 44th running of the New York City Marathon, in what is expected to be one of the most contentious races in history. A star-studded field of competitors will take to the streets of Americas largest city, in which competitors will be searching for a victory to knock off the current WMM leader on the mens side, Dennis Kimetto. The 30-year-old native of Kenya tops the WMM leaderboard after picking up a victory and setting a world record in Septembers Berlin Marathon. The course in New York starts across the The Narrows on Staten Island, but competitors quickly cross the Verrazano Narrows Bridge into Brooklyn. From there, runners take long trips up Third Avenue and Fourth Avenue, work their way up the East River and then cross over the Queensboro Bridge into Manhattan. Once in the heart of the city, runners will shoot straight up First Avenue, make a left hook up on 135th Street over the Madison Avenue Bridge, and make their way down Fifth Avenue and into Central Park, where the race finishes up. The race has been run every year since 1970, with the exception of the 2012 season in which the event was canceled due to Hurricane Sandy. Kenyan runner Geoffrey Mutai has won each of the last two races. His 2011 victory set the course record with a time of 2:05:06. The New York City Marathon is one of the six World Marathon Majors courses. The World Marathon Majors is a competition for marathoners that spans a two-year period, and takes four of a runners highest finishes into account when determining which runner receives the prize jackpot. The runner who has the best four finishes gets the jackpot of $500,000. The six race courses are in Tokyo, Boston, Berlin, London, Chicago and New York. To be eligible for the jackpot, each athlete must compete in at least one of these qualifying courses in each of the two calendar years. New York hosts the final leg of the World Marathon Majors. In the 2014 version of the race, a mens champion will be crowned for the 2013-14 season. The two- year period overlaps, though, and this race will count toward the 2014-15 WMM series as well. On the womens side, Kenyan runner Rita Jeptoo has already captured the WMM crown and the $500,000 jackpot by taking victories in the 2013 and 2014 Boston Marathons, and the 2013 and 2014 Chicago Marathons. Jeptoo defended her 2013 Chicago title with a victory there last month, which awarded her the WMM crown. She is not in the New York field. But for the men, it all comes down to this race. Kimetto leads the WMM standings after capturing the victory in Berlin back in September, so he is not running this race. He adds his victory in Berlin to the 2013 Tokyo Marathon and the 2013 Chicago Marathon in the WMM series. The top challenger who can steal the WMM crown away from Kimetto is Wilson Kipsang, a fellow Kenyan who is making his New York debut. Kipsang has taken victories in the 2013 Berlin Marathon and the 2014 Virgin Money London Marathon, so a victory here in New York is the only thing that can help him surpass Kimetto for the title. Kimetto broke Kipsangs previous world record of 2:03:23 in Berlin not even two months ago with his 2:02:57 time. Kipsang, a 32-year-old, said hes eying the course record in New York this weekend. The two-time defending champion Mutai is also in this years field of competitors. He won back in 2011 with a time of 2:05:06 - the current course record - and then won again in 2013 after Hurricane Sandy canceled the 2012 event. Mutai looks to become the first three-time NYC Marathon winner since American Alberto Salazar captured three straight titles from 1980-1982. Another American, Bill Rodgers, won four straight titles in New York immediately before Salazars run. Ethiopian contenders Lelisa Desisa and Gebre Gebremariam will both present challenges to Kipsang and Mutai. Desisa won his marathon debut last year in Dubai in just under 2 hours, 5 minutes, and then followed that victory up with a win in the 2013 Boston Marathon. Desisa dropped out of this years Boston Marathon at the 40-kilometer mark, but won a half-marathon in October in 1:01:38. Gebremariam, a 31-year-old, has a marathon personal best of 2:04:53, and won the New York event back in 2010. Reigning World and Olympic marathon champion Stephen Kiprotich, a 25-year-old Ugandan, will certainly be a runner to watch in this years race. Kiprotich finished 12th in last years NYC race, but finished third in his last Bupa Greatest Race outing in Newcastle last month. Kiprotich is just the second man in the world to win both the Olympic and World championship marathon titles, but he wasnt able to make an impact in Aprils London Marathon. My problem was speed, and I have been working on it, Kiprotich said. I believe that it is great enough for me to put up some good challenge against that high field of elite runners. The best chance for Americans in the race falls on 2014 Boston Marathon winner Meb Keflezighi. The 39-year-old may be one of the more overlooked competitors, considering he won this event in New York back in 2009, and wasnt seen as much of a threat in Boston before he pulled ahead for the win. Keflezighi beat some big names in Boston earlier this year, including Kimetto, Desisa and Gebremariam. Defending womens champion Priscah Jeptoo, who won last years event with a time of 2:25:07, withdrew from the Nov. 2 race early in October due to a leg injury that occurred during the London Marathon. Jeptoo said she plans to come back and run in New York again in 2015. That leaves the womens side pretty open. The front-runners are Mary Keitany (of Kenya) and Buzunesh Deba (of Ethiopia). Keitany, 32, hasnt participated in a marathon since the London Olympics, which was before the birth of her second child. Since then, she has competed in just two other non-marathon races. My training has been going on very well, Keitany said. I have also had a chance to compete and test my body, but this will be the first major hurdle in my program to return to the top of marathon running. Shell be challenging for the course record, which was set by Margaret Okayo back in 2003 (2:22:31). In the second of her London Marathon wins (2012), Keitany set a blistering pace of 2:18:37, which was the fastest time since Paula Radcliffe ran a sub-2:18 back in 2005. But since she hasnt raced in a marathon since then, any form of record may be unrealistic for Keitany. Deba is from Ethiopia, but calls the Bronx her home. She finished second last year in New York with a time of 2:25:56. She had built up a lead at the 15-mile mark over Priscah Jeptoo, but then Jeptoo turned on the jets to take the win and the WMM title at the end of last season. It was the second time in as many years that Deba finished second in New York. Deba also finished second at this years Boston Marathon by running a personal best of 2:19:59. Coming into the final race of the season and the WMM title already being awarded to Rita Jeptoo, Deba will be shooting for a first-place finish. Because of the withdrawal by Priscah Jeptoo, Kenyan Jemima Sumgong was added to the list of race entrants. She has a personal best of 2:20:41, and plans on challenging for one of the top spots this year. Also, 34-year-old Kenyan Edna Kiplagat will be running in this years New York event. She finished first in New York back in 2010 with a time of 2:28:20. Kiplagat has a personal marathon best of 2:19:50. Keitany has run the New York Marathon twice in the past, and finished third both of those times with a best finish of 2:23:38 in 2011. I hope to be third-time lucky, she said. But that is easier said than done. In New York, there are no pace makers, no jokers and only serious challengers. I hope I will pass the test and get the best result. The top three American contenders on the womens side consist of Deena Kastor, Desiree Linden and Kara Goucher. American Shalane Flanagan will not compete after finishing seventh in the 2014 Boston Marathon and third in the 2014 Berlin Marathon (which she finished with a personal-best 2:21:14). Kastor, a 41-year-old, holds the American record for the fastest marathon at 2:19:36, which she set in 2006 in London. She might be the best hope for the American women, who havent won the New York City Marathon since Miki Gorman did so back in 1977. Its the final event of the 2014 marathon season, which means the final try for Kipsang to unseat Kimetto at the top of the WMM standings. The mens side will be highly competitive with the title on the line, but the women will be running for a big boost in the 2014-15 WMM race. Either way, this field of competitors is one of the deepest in marathon history, so expect fireworks in New York on Sunday. Carl Hagelin Penguins Jersey . Adam Lind provided the power and rookie starter Marcus Stroman had the best start of his young career as the Blue Jays dumped the Yankees 8-3 at Rogers Centre. Stroman, making his fifth start for Toronto, allowed one earned run and three hits over a career-high eight innings. Paul Coffey Penguins Jersey . Calgary finished atop the CFL standings with a 14-4 record and earned the right to host the West Division final at McMahon Stadium on Nov. http://www.penguinsauthenticofficial.com/kris-letang-jersey/ . “Momentum is only as good as the next days starter,” the long-time Baltimore Orioles manager famously quipped.ATLANTA - Paul Millsap scored 22 points, Jeff Teague added 17 and the Atlanta Hawks eclipsed the franchise record with their 15th straight victory, beating the Oklahoma City Thunder 103-93 on Friday night.Before a raucous sellout crowd, the Hawks won for the 29th time in 31 games to extend their Eastern-best record to 36-8.As usual, pretty much everyone chipped in.Four starters were in double figures and backup point guard Dennis Schroder led a spurt at the start of the fourth quarter that helped the Hawks pull away. He finished with 13 points and five assists, igniting the arena with a towering finger roll that dropped gently through the net.Russell Westbrook led the Thunder with 22 points.Kyle Korver was the only starter who didnt reach double figures, but even he chipped in with a play that had everyone talking: another dunk in the waning seconds of the first half that sent the Hawks to the locker room with a 48-47 lead.They never trailed again.WARRIORS 126, KINGS 101OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Klay Thompson scored the most points in a quarter in NBA history, a 37-point third period that powered the Golden State Warriors to victory.Thompson, who finished with a career-high 52 points, pleased the announced sellout crowd of 19,596 at rowdy Oracle Arena with a performance that will long be remembered in the basketball-loving Bay Area. The All-Star hopeful made all 13 shots, including a league-record nine from 3-point range, and hit both of his free throws during a 12-minute span.His streaky shooting touch helped the Warriors (35-6) erase a sloppy showing for its franchise-best 18th consecutive home victory. Golden State became the 10th NBA team to win at least 35 games halfway through a season.The last player to score at least that many points in a quarter was Carmelo Anthony with 33 in 2008 while with Denver.CAVALIERS 129, HORNETS 90CLEVELAND (AP) — LeBron James scored 25 points and the Cleveland Cavaliers put on a dominant performance by routing the Charlotte Hornets for their fifth straight win.The Cavaliers, with an artful display of shooting and passing, had the home crowd on its feet throughout the game. Clevelands 75-40 lead at halftime was its biggest in franchise history and the margin reached 49 points in the fourth quarter.J.R. Smith scored 21 points on seven 3-pointers, and Kyrie Irving added 18 in Clevelands biggest win of the season.Charlotte had won eight of nine, but was no match for the Cavaliers, who have again looked like title contenders since James returned from an eight-game absence with knee and back injuries.Al Jefferson led Charlotte with 22 points.SPURS 99, LAKERS 85SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Tony Parker scored 17 points and the San Antonio Spurs never trailed in rolling to a 99-85 victory over a depleted Los Angeles Lakers team that potentially has lost Kobe Bryant for the season.Kawhi Leonard had 15 points and 14 rebounds, Manu Ginobili scored 15 points and Tim Duncan added 14 points for San Antonio.Nick Young scored 17 points to lead the Lakers, who lost their seventh straight. Rookie point guard Jordan Clarkson, a San Antonio native, had 11 points and four assists in his first career start.Bryant tore his right rotator cuff Wednesday in New Orleans.BULLS 102, MMAVERICKS 98DALLAS (AP) — Derrick Rose scored 20 points, Jimmy Butler had 14 of his 20 in the second half and the Chicago Bulls beat the Dallas Mavericks. Pittsburgh Penguins Jerseys. Pau Gasol had 13 points and 16 rebounds, and Joakim Noah added six points and seven boards in his return after missing four games with a sprained right ankle.Dirk Nowitzki scored 24 points to lead the Mavericks.ROCKETS 113, SUNS 111PHOENIX (AP) — James Harden scored 33 points, including a 20-foot jumper as time ran out, to lift the Houston Rockets to a victory over the Phoenix Suns.Hardens 33 points came in the absence of injured star centre Dwight Howard for three quarters.Harden, the NBAs leading scorer entering the night at 27.2 points per game, added 10 assists and six rebounds and made 14 of 17 free throw attempts for the Rockets.Eric Bledsoe had 25 points, eight rebounds and nine assists to lead the Suns,PELICANS 92, TIMBERWOLVES 84MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Newly minted All-Star starter Anthony Davis had 21 points and 12 rebounds to help the New Orleans Pelicans avoid what would have been another ugly road loss.Eric Gordon scored 20 points and the Pelicans (22-21) shot 50 per cent from the field to move over .500 for the first time since Jan. 2. Gorgui Dieng had 14 points and 15 rebounds for the Timberwolves (7-35), who have the fewest wins in the league.HEAT 89, PACERS 87MIAMI (AP) — Luol Deng scored 23 points, Chris Bosh added 19 and the Miami Heat survived another second-half struggle at home, hanging on to top the Indiana Pacers.Dwyane Wade scored 13 for Miami, which led by 20 late in the third quarter before Indiana ripped off an 11-0 run and got right back into the game. Indianas hope at overtime went awry when C.J. Watsons open 20-footer from the right corner rimmed out at the buzzer.Luis Scola scored 14 points for the Pacers, who dropped their seventh straight.KNICKS 113, MAGIC 106NEW YORK (AP) — Carmelo Anthony scored 25 points and the New York Knicks extended their season-high winning streak to three games.Jason Smith added a season-best 19 points for the Knicks, who improved to 8-36. Lance Thomas had 16 points, and Langston Galloway 15; both are in the midst of their second 10-day contract. Nikola Vucevic led the way for the Magic (15-31) with 34 points and 18 rebounds.RAPTORS 91, 76ERS 86PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Kyle Lowry scored 17 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter to lead the Toronto Raptors to a comeback victory.Patrick Patterson added 14 points and 13 rebounds for the Raptors, who overcame a nine-point deficit with 5 1/2 minutes left. Robert Covington scored 18 points to lead six 76ers in double-figures. It was the fourth straight loss and sixth in seven games for Philadelphia.CELTICS 100, NUGGETS 99DENVER (AP) — Avery Bradley scored 18 points, including a go-ahead 3-pointer with 1:24 left, and the Boston Celtics hung on to send Denver to its fifth loss in a row.The Nuggets played without star guard Ty Lawson, who was away from the team for what the club said were personal reasons following his arrest earlier Friday on suspicion of driving under the influence.Jameer Nelson had 23 points in his first start for the Nuggets in place of Lawson. 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