Some of the loudest applause was reserved for 2013 Boston Marathon bombing survivors like Marc Fucarile, who lost a leg in the attack and crossed the finish line using a hand cycle in about 2 hours, 22 minutes.
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Another Ethiopian, Yemane Adhane Tsegay was third in 2:14.02.
The 21-year-old Hayle won the race by pairing off with Desisa to break from the mainly East African pack late in the course. She said she was ready to skip such a plan in her last miles, but after becoming a marathoner she can’t wait to again tackle the distance. “The crowd, the spectators, the people”, said Kelly Speltz, who came from IL to cheer on her husband.
Tirfi Tsegaye of Ethiopia was second (2:30:03) and Joyce Chepkirui of Kenya took third (2:30:50).
After a slow start during which defending champion Caroline Rotich dropped out between four and five miles, the halfway point of the women’s race was passed by the leading group in 75:25. “You just never know how many runners show up”. “In the summer, I will run before work”. “I’m excited to see how the race plays out for him”.
American Neely Spence Gracey marks her marathon debut in Boston with personal connections.
Burns was less than a half-mile from the finish line in 2013 when domestic terrorists detonated homemade bombs, killing three people including eight-year-old Martin Richard as he watched the race with his family.
Once he finished, Downes embraced a number of people, including his wife Jessica Kensky, who was unable to run because she both of her legs were amputated as a result of the bombing.
Julie Robert, of Montreal, Canada, wore a Wonder Woman costume as her three young children, dressed as Batman, Robin and Supergirl, clung to the barricades near the end of the race waiting for Dad to complete the final stretch.
In a special moment previous year, Haslet’s two brothers ran the race, and she joined them at the finish line.
The 35-year-old actor and Bauman also threw out the first pitch as the Boston Red Sox took on the Toronto Blue Jays.
Haslet wasn’t the only survivor to get the honor at Fenway over the weekend.
Seeing Adrianne Haslet-Davis do something so inspirational is important for amputees everywhere, according to Greg Reynolds from the Wounded Amputee Softball Team.
Many top American runners sat out the race, opting to focus on preparations for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. “If we remember previous year, they selected (the Boston top finishers) for the World Championships”. Both were at Fenway Park for the ceremonial first pitch on Saturday.
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This year, there will be more than 30,000 official participants, including more than 6,400 runners from 98 countries. For being the first to reach the Boylston Street finish line in the heart of downtown, Baysa received $150,000 and an olive wreath – the same prize as the men’s victor. “To win the Boston Marathon means that I am the best athlete in a very competitive field, including my teammates”.
