adminNEW YORK – Desiree Linden became the first American woman since 1985 to win the Boston Marathon while Japan’s Yuki Kawauchi captured his fourth men’s marathon victory of the year on Monday. Both champions endured the coldest start in 30 years as well as gusting winds and steady rain in taking landmark triumphs in the 122nd edition of the famed 42.2km showdown over city streets.
Kawauchi overtook defending champion Geoffrey Kirui of Kenya over the final 2km in heavy rain to win in 2:15:58 with runner-up Kirui in 2:18:23 and American Shadrack Biwott third in 2:18:35.
“This is the greatest day of my life,” a tearful Kawauchi said through a translator. “This is Boston. This is the greatest race in the world.”
Kawauchi won his fifth consecutive marathon after last year’s Hofu Marathon in Japan, a New Year’s Day marathon at Marshfield, Massachusetts, Japan’s Kitakyushu Marathon and Taiwan’s Wanjinshi Marathon.
Linden overtook Ethiopia’s Mamitu Daska and Kenya’s Gladys Chesir at Heartbreak Hill after the 20-mile mark and kept the lead from there to win in 2:39:54. American Sarah Sellers was a distant second in 2:44:04 with Canada’s Krista Duchene third, another 16 seconds adrift. – AFP.
Online Reporter