American Meb Keflezighi wins Boston Marathon
Meb Keflezighi, of San Diego, Calif., celebrates his victory in the 118th Boston Marathon Monday, April 21, 2014 in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
BOSTON (AP) — "The Star-Spangled Banner" played over Boylston
Street in honor of an American winner of the Boston Marathon.
View PhotoJosphat Boit, left, and Meb Keflezighi, compete along the course of the 118th
Boston …Running just two weeks before his 39th birthday, he had the names of the 2013 bombing victims on his bib.
"At the end, I just kept thinking, 'Boston Strong. Boston Strong,'" he said. "I was thinking give everything you have. If you get beat, that's it."
Meb Keflezighi, of San Diego, Calif., is hugged after crossing the
finish line to win the 118th Boston Marathon Monday, April 21, 2014 in
Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) Keflezighi completed the 26.2 miles from Hopkinton to the finish on Boylston Street in Boston's Back Bay on Monday in a personal-best 2 hours, 8 minutes, 37 seconds. He held off Kenya's Wilson Chebet, who finished 11 seconds behind.
Keflezighi went out early and built a big lead. But he was looking over his shoulder several times as Chebet closed the gap over the final two miles. After realizing he wouldn't be caught, Keflezighi raised his sunglasses, began pumping his right fist and made the sign of the cross. He broke into tears after crossing the finish line, then draped himself in the American flag.
No U.S. runner had won the race since Lisa Larsen-Weidenbach took the women's title in 1985; the last American man to win was Greg Meyer in 1983. Meyer and Keflezighi embraced after the race.
"I'm blessed to be an American and God bless America and God Bless Boston for this special day,"
Keflezighi said.
Rita Jeptoo of Kenya successfully defended the women's title she said she could not enjoy a year ago. Jeptoo finished in a course-record 2 hours, 18 minutes, 57 seconds. She is a three-time Boston Marathon champion, having also won in 2006.
View Photo Meb Keflezighi, of San Diego, Calif., breaks the tape to win the 118th Boston Marathon …
"I came here to support the people in Boston and show them that we are here together," she said. "I decided to support them and show them we are here together."
Jeptoo broke away from a group of five runners at the 23-mile mark. Buzunesh Deba of Ethiopia finished second in 2:19:59. Countrywoman Mare Dibaba was third at 2:19:52. All three women came in under the previous course record.
American Shalane Flanagan, who went to high school in nearby Marblehead, Mass., finished seventh after leading for more than half the race. She gambled by setting the early pace, but fell back on the Newton
Hills about 21 miles into the race.
View Photo
Rita Jeptoo, of Kenya, celebrates her win in the women's division of the 118th …
"It does mean a lot to be that my city was proud of me," she said. "I'm proud of how I ran. I don't wish I was it was easier. I wish I was better."
After breaking a 27-year American drought at the New York marathon, Keflezighi contemplated retiring after the 2012 NYC Marathon. But that race was canceled because of Superstorm Sandy, and he pulled out of the Boston Marathon in April because of injury.
View PhotoMeb Keflezighi runs alone on the race course during the 118th Boston Marathon
Monday, …
He was the first American to win a medal in an Olympic marathon since Frank
Shorter won gold in 1972 and silver in 1976. His 2009 New York victory broke a
27-year American drought there.
View Photo
Another American, Tatyana McFadden,
celebrated her 25th birthday Monday by winning the women's wheelchair race for the second straight year.
She was timed in in 1 hour, 35 minutes, 6 seconds.
McFadden was born in Russia and lived in an orphanage as a child before starring at the University of Illinois. She also won the 2013 NYC Marathon women's wheelchair race after taking the titles in Boston, London and Chicago last year.
View PhotoRunners Meb Keflezighi, and Ryan Hall, right, of the United States, wish each
other …
Ernst van Dyk of South Africa won the men's wheelchair division for a record 10th time. The 41-year-old crossed the finish line in 1 hour, 20 minutes, 36 seconds.
Van Dyk holds the record for most all-categories Boston Marathon wins. This was his first win at this race since 2010.
Meb
Keflezighi, of San Diego, Calif., raises his fist as he competes in the
118th Boston Marathon Monday, April 21, 2014 in Newton, Mass. (AP
Photo/Steven Senne)
Marathon officials said 35,755 runners registered for the race, with 32,408 unofficial starters. The field included just less than 5,000 runners who did not finish last year and accepted invitations to return this year.
____
Associated Press freelance writer Ken Powtak contributed to this
View PhotoAnother American, Tatyana McFadden,
celebrated her 25th birthday Monday by winning the women's wheelchair race for the second straight year.
She was timed in in 1 hour, 35 minutes, 6 seconds.
McFadden was born in Russia and lived in an orphanage as a child before starring at the University of Illinois. She also won the 2013 NYC Marathon women's wheelchair race after taking the titles in Boston, London and Chicago last year.
View PhotoRunners Meb Keflezighi, and Ryan Hall, right, of the United States, wish each
other …Ernst van Dyk of South Africa won the men's wheelchair division for a record 10th time. The 41-year-old crossed the finish line in 1 hour, 20 minutes, 36 seconds.
Van Dyk holds the record for most all-categories Boston Marathon wins. This was his first win at this race since 2010.
Meb
Keflezighi, of San Diego, Calif., raises his fist as he competes in the
118th Boston Marathon Monday, April 21, 2014 in Newton, Mass. (AP
Photo/Steven Senne)Marathon officials said 35,755 runners registered for the race, with 32,408 unofficial starters. The field included just less than 5,000 runners who did not finish last year and accepted invitations to return this year.
____
Associated Press freelance writer Ken Powtak contributed to this
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