Boston Diaries: A Kenyan Double in Beantown

BOSTON (USA, Apr 17): Geoffrey Kirui (2:09:37) and Edna Kiplagat (2:21:52) made it a Kenyan double in the Boston Marathon. Kiplagat ran a big negative split of 69:19 to win on her race debut ahead of Bahrain’s Rose Chelimo (2:22:51) and debutante Jordan Hasay (2:23:00) with long-time leader Desiree Linden fourth in 2:25:06. Kiplagat, 37, also became the oldest winner of the women’s race since 1977. Reigning champion Atsede Baysa from Ethiopia dropped off the pace after the 15km mark and faded to 22nd in 2:40:07 while notable DNFs included Kenyans Joyce Chepkirui and former winner Caroline Rotich. Kirui broke away from Galen Rupp in the last five kilometres to win the men’s race in 2:09:37 (64:35/65:02) to Rupp’s 2:09:58. His training partner Suguro Osako was third in 2:10:28 ahead of Shadrack Biwott (2:12:08), Wilson Chebet (2:12:35) and Abdi Abdirahman (2:12:45). Six Americans finished inside the top-10 although former winner Meb Keflezighi finished down the field in his penultimate marathon in 13th (2:17:00). Fastest entrant Emmanuel Mutai was a distant 18th in 2:19:33 while notable DNFs included reigning champion Lemi Berhanu, Sisay Lemma and Kenyans Daniel Salel and Sammy Kitwara.