KENYA'S WESLET KORIR, CHEROP WIN BOSTON MARATHO
Wesley Korir, left, and Sharon Cherop, both of Kenya, kiss the
winner's trophy after winning the men's and women's divisions of the
116th Boston Marathon in Boston today.
BOSTON—Wesley Korir, a Kenyan citizen and permanent resident of the United States, won the Boston Marathon on Monday in a heat-slowed time of 2 hours, 12 minutes, 40 seconds that was almost 10 minutes behind the world best established here a year ago by Geoffrey Mutai.
It was the second-slowest Boston race since 1985, as temperatures rising into the 80s slowed the leaders and may have convinced as many as 4,300 entrants to sit this one out. Mutai, who was hoping a repeat victory would earn him a spot on the Kenyan Olympic team, dropped out after 18 miles with cramps.
Instead, Korir may have won a ticket to the London Games.
"To me, I think running the Boston Marathon is an Olympic event," the two-time Los Angeles Marathon champion said. "I don't care what comes up after this, but I'm really, really happy to win Boston."
Sharon Cherop won the women's race to complete the Kenyan sweep, outkicking Jemima Jelagat Sumgong to win by 2 seconds in 2:31:50. The women's race was decided by a sprint down Boylston Street for the fifth consecutive year.
Korir was the 19th Kenyan men's winner in 22 years. But he is hardly typical of the African runners who have come to dominate the event since Greg Meyer became the last American winner in 1983.
BOSTON—Wesley Korir, a Kenyan citizen and permanent resident of the United States, won the Boston Marathon on Monday in a heat-slowed time of 2 hours, 12 minutes, 40 seconds that was almost 10 minutes behind the world best established here a year ago by Geoffrey Mutai.
It was the second-slowest Boston race since 1985, as temperatures rising into the 80s slowed the leaders and may have convinced as many as 4,300 entrants to sit this one out. Mutai, who was hoping a repeat victory would earn him a spot on the Kenyan Olympic team, dropped out after 18 miles with cramps.
Instead, Korir may have won a ticket to the London Games.
"To me, I think running the Boston Marathon is an Olympic event," the two-time Los Angeles Marathon champion said. "I don't care what comes up after this, but I'm really, really happy to win Boston."
Sharon Cherop won the women's race to complete the Kenyan sweep, outkicking Jemima Jelagat Sumgong to win by 2 seconds in 2:31:50. The women's race was decided by a sprint down Boylston Street for the fifth consecutive year.
Korir was the 19th Kenyan men's winner in 22 years. But he is hardly typical of the African runners who have come to dominate the event since Greg Meyer became the last American winner in 1983.
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