NEW YORK (AP) A dozen young Australian runners from indigenous tribes once targeted for genocide have a different goal than just finishing the New York City Marathon.
Trainer and former top marathoner Robert de Castella says the finish line is just their start.
The runners will use their new physical and mental prowess to go home and start tackling the problems of their Aboriginal and Islander peoples. That includes a 20-year life expectancy gap due to addictions, mental illnesses and other diseases blamed on generations of abuse by European colonizers.
The Australians are among about 20,000 foreigners from more than 20 nations running Sunday's race.
Winners were Kenya's Mary Keitany and Eritrea's Ghirmay Ghebreslassie.
The Australian runners are raising funds for their Indigenous Marathon Foundation that brings a new team to New York annually.
