The UN World Food Program (WFP) has praised Kenya's Paul Tergat, WFP's Ambassador Against Hunger, on Sunday's huge win at the New York City Marathon.

"We are tremendously proud that Paul Tergat has won yet another major marathon," said James Morris, WFP's Executive Director in a statement here on Monday.

"Not only is he a great athlete but a wonderful humanitarian who is deeply dedicated to helping the world's poor and hungry," Morris said.

"Few people are better qualified to explain how food aid can transform the life of a child," said Morris.

Tergat won the New York Marathon, finishing a meter ahead of defending champion Hendrick Ramaala of South Africa.

Tergat, 36, the world record holder, fought out a dramatic head to head battle with Ramaala in the last 400 meters of the race.

The Kenyan just made it to the tape first, as his challenger in his desperation to cross the line crashed to the ground as he finished just a meter behind.

Their times were one second different, Tergat's 2:09:30 to the South African's 2:09:31.

"He exemplifies how just a small amount of help -- such as one school meal a day -- can make such an incredible difference. We are very grateful to Paul for his tremendous work and commitment as a WFP Ambassador Against Hunger," Morris added.

Tergat is currently the world's fastest man over 26 miles, but as a hungry child in the drought-and poverty-ridden district of Baringo, Kenya's marathon man struggled to make the three-mile trek to school.

As a child growing up in Kenya's impoverished Rift Valley, where drought, disease and hunger were a daily reality, Tergat benefited from WFP school meals, and credits his successful athletic career to the food he received.

"Without food, it was very difficult to walk to school, let alone concentrate on our studies. WFP's lunches made it easier for us to make the most of our education," said Tergat.

"A full meal was also the perfect incentive to keep us in the classroom," he said.

WFP school meals cost just 19 US cents a day or 34 dollars a year.

Research shows that school feeding dramatically increases school attendance and boosts performance in the classroom.

Morris recently announced that the number of hungry people in sub-Saharan Africa this year had climbed to an all-time high -- 43 million -- rising by some six million a year since 2000.

Morris warned that high levels of hunger threatened to destabilize the African countryside, and called for a number of actions, including more concerted political action to ensure peace.

Tergat was named a WFP Hunger Ambassador in January 2004.

In addition to support he provides to WFP, he recently launched his own foundation to help develop underprivileged children into future athletes.

Tergat set a new world record for the marathon in Berlin in 2003, slicing a remarkable 43 seconds off the previous best time.

He is the ninth straight African man to win New York City Marathon.

Source: Xinhua