Kosgei and Merga win Boston Marathons'

Monday, April 20, 2009 at 9:17 PM Posted by Beijing News


Kenya's Salina Kosgei snatched the women's title in the Boston Marathon by one second on Monday, as Deriba Merga of Ethiopia triumphed in the men's race.

Kosgei's winning time of 2hr 32min 16sec was relatively slow, but her finish, as she edged 2008 champion Dire Tune of Ethiopia at the line - didn't lack for drama.

Last year, Tune edged Alevtina Biktimirova to win by two seconds in what was then the closest women's finish ever.

This time around she and Kosgei traded the lead several times in the closing metres before Kosgei was able to cross the line first.

The only closer finish in the race's history was in 2000, when Elijah Lagat beat Gezahegne Abera with matching times of 2:09:47.

Tune collapsed just after finishing in 2:32.17. She received treatment from medical personnel and was then put on a stretcher and taken from the finishing area.

A race spokesman said she was hospitalized as a precaution.

American Kara Goucher, who led with a mile to go, faded and finished third in 2:32.25.

Kosgei said the weather made the challenging course even more difficult.

"The wind was a bit stronger. ... So, it was very hard," Kosgei said. "I decided I must try. So, I tried."

Merga's victory was a more straightforward affair.

The Ethiopian, who faded in the heat of Beijing to finish fourth in the Olympic Marathon last year after leading with less than a mile to go, pulled away before 'Heartbreak Hill' and was able to maintain his lead, finishing almost a minute ahead of Kenyan Daniel Rono 2:09.32. American Ryan Hall was third.

The women's race was so slow that even though they started 30 minutes before the men, Merga was crossing the line before Kosgei had mounted the podium.

"I was little bit embarrassed," said Colleen De Reuck, a 45-year-old four-time Olympian and naturalized US citizen who grabbed the lead out of frustration and eventually finished eighth.

"You come to a marathon and a big marathon like this, you get paid a lot of money to come and run and I think you should race."

The two third places for US runners was the best American finish since 1985.

"I've never experienced anything like this," said Hall, who took the early lead and was shoulder-to-shoulder with the leaders with about 10 miles remaining.

"People were so proud to see an American up front, and there was a lot of 'U-S-A!' cheering," Goucher said. "Two Americans in the top three is fantastic. I think once things settle in a bit, it'll be a really great day, we'll be really proud of this."



REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni

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