Americans Take Third at Boston Marathon

By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Apr 20, 2009 4:13 PM CDT
Americans Take Third at Boston Marathon
This two picture combination shows Deriba Merga of Ethiopia, at left, and Salina Kosgei of Kenya, at right, winners of the Boston Marathon in Boston, Monday, April 20, 2009.   (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Ethiopia’s Deriba Merga overcame the disappointment of his Olympic fade to win the Boston Marathon today, and Kenya’s Salina Kosgei won the closest women’s race in the history of the event. Americans took third in both races for the best US finish since 1985. Merga, who was passed in the last quarter-mile, pulled away and won in 2 hours, 8 minutes, 42 second—almost a full minute ahead of Kenya’s Daniel Rono and American Ryan Hall.

Kosgei won a sprint with defending champion Dire Tune, trading the lead several times in the final blocks of Boylston Street before hitting the tape less than a stride ahead of the Ethiopian in 2:32:16. American Kara Goucher led the three as they crossed the MassPike into Kenmore Square with one mile to go, but she was outkicked down the stretch and finished 9 seconds back. (More Boston Marathon stories.)

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