Ethiopian, Kenyan Win Boston Marathon

Lelisa Desisa, Caroline Rotich are men's, women's winners
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Apr 20, 2015 11:31 AM CDT
Ethiopian, Kenyan Win Boston Marathon
From left, Yemane Adhane Tsegay of Ethiopia, Wesley Korir of Kenya, Tadese Tola of Ethiopia, Meb Keflezighi of San Diego, Lelisa Desisa of Ethiopia, Lusapho April of South Africa, and Nicholas Arciniaga of Flagstaff, Ariz., at the start line of the Boston Marathon, Monday, April 20, 2015.   (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia)

Lelisa Desisa of Ethiopia has won the 119th Boston Marathon in an unofficial time of 2 hours, 9 minutes, 17 seconds. It's his second victory here. He also won the 2013 race just hours before a pair of bombs exploded at the finish line. Desisa returned after the attacks to donate his medal to the city in memory of the victims. Caroline Rotich won the women's race in an unofficial 2:24:55. It's the first Boston victory for the 30-year-old Kenyan. She finished fourth here in 2011. Rotich edged out Mare Dibaba of Ethiopia in a sprint finish on Boylston Street. Dibaba's countrywoman, Buzunesh Deba, was third, and American Desiree Linden finished fourth after leading for much of the race. (More Boston Marathon stories.)

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