NEW YORK -- A total of 31,824 people finished the New York City Marathon, the race's highest tally ever and a 34 percent increase from last year.

Nearly 98 percent of those who started Sunday's race crossed the finish line in Central Park, organizers said Monday.

Last year's unusually low count of 23,664 was attributed by race officials to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and their aftermath, including the anthrax scare.

The previous record number of those completing the 26.2 miles in New York was 31,786, in 1999. The first NYC Marathon, in 1970, drew 127 participants, of whom 55 finished.

The winners -- Rodgers Rop and Joyce Chepchumba, both of Kenya -- had a busy Monday, starting at 8 a.m. with a sponsor appearance. They also were scheduled to tape an appearance on David Letterman's "Late Show,'' ring the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange, and sit courtside at a New York Knicks game.

Rop's time of 2 hours, 8 minutes, 7 seconds was the third-fastest in the event's history. Christopher Cheboiboch, Laban Kipkemboi and Mohamed Ouaadi also finished in under 2:09, the first time four runners had eclipsed that mark in one NYC Marathon.

The top U.S. placers, Marla Runyan and Meb Keflezighi, both were running their first marathons.

Runyan, who is legally blind, turned in the second-fastest debut marathon by a U.S. woman, finishing in 2:27:10, fifth overall. She's accustomed to track running but said Monday she will compete in another marathon.

"I had a great experience,'' Runyan said. "Definitely, the next go-round, it will be a better performance. I feel very strongly that I can run a much faster marathon.''

Keflezighi was ninth among the men in 2:12:35, and said he might attempt the distance again.

"There is a wall, and I definitely experienced it. But looking back, I gave it a shot,'' he said. "I felt great for 20 miles. The last six was a challenge.''