Keflezighi struggled Monday, finishing outside the top eight in Boston for the first time. She said it has always been her dream to return to the streets of Boston after making history there in 1967.
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With two-time fourth-place finisher Shalane Flanagan out with a back injury, the US hopes on the women’s side are represented by Desi Linden, a two-time Olympian who has thrice placed in the top 10 in Boston.
Rose Chelimo, the Kenyan-born runner who now represents Bahrain, was second in 2:22:51 while Jordan Hasay of the United States was third in 2:23:00.
It has not been an easy year for Jordan Hasay. She kept running and finished in 4 hours and 20 minutes. Goucher and Deena Kastor, the 2004 Olympic marathon bronze medalist, had been the only American women to debut faster than 2:27 before Hasay. She beat the time of previous record-holder Kara Goucher (2:25:53) by almost three minutes.
Among the few disappointed elite Americans was Desiree Linden, 33, a favorite coming in who faded at miles 18 and 19 and could not recover, finishing in fourth place, 3:14 behind the victor. Linden headed into Boston this morning aiming to win.
At the point where she was once confronted by that race official, she posted a Facebook Live video – smiling as she ran, with her bib number, 261, pinned safely in place.
It was snowing by the time she and her teammates reached the starting line in Hopkinton.
And as Primack highlighted, the Boston Marathon serves as an apt metaphor for the future challenges of a hotter planet.
The pace started off nice and easy. Defending champion Atsede Baysa was also in the pack. One of them told her to wipe off her lipstick so organizers would not notice her.
Switzer served as the honorary starter for the women’s elite race, won by Kenya’s Edna Kiplagat, before taking to the course herself.
Linden led the women through 10K in 34:58 with competitor Joyce Chepkirui tucked in behind. Caroline Rotich, who has given Linden tough competition in the past, dropped at 15K. She’s joined in the field by countrywoman Buzunesh Deba, the 2014 champion.
Marcel Hug (HOOG) has won the wheelchair race at the Boston Marathon in a world’s best time.
Kiplagat, 37, was greeted by her children and family members as she crossed the line. Kiplagat arrived in Boston this weekend with something to prove.
Keflezighi, 41, said he plans to enter the New York Marathon, which he won in 2009, one last time in the fall before retiring. Gusts were expected of up to 30 miles per hour.
Keflezighi, who plans to retire from racing after this year’s NY marathon, stopped after his victory to touch the hand of Bill Richard, whose 8-year-old son Martin was the youngest person to die in the bombing. The average high for Boston in April is 56 degrees F.
This was Kiplagat’s first appearance at the Boston Marathon. Japan’s Suguru Osako was third in 2:10:28.
A few miles in she saw a man with a felt hat and overcoat in the middle of the road shaking his finger at her as she passed. From there, it was obvious that the gold was hers.
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“Our analysis shows that winning times are, in fact, nearly 2 minutes slower for every 10 degree F (5.6 degree C) increase in temperature”, wrote Boston University professor Richard Primack, the lead author of the study, in an article explaining its findings.
