(MENAFN- Arab Times) BOSTON April 20 (RTRS): Ethiopian runner Lelisa Desisa and Kenya's Caroline Rotich were the top male and female finishers at Monday's Boston Marathon two years after the race was struck by a deadly bombing attack.
Desisa who famously gave his winner's medal to the city following the 2013 attack pulled ahead of all rivals to sprint down Boylston Street alone finishing with a time of 2 hours 9 minutes and 17 seconds. 'Strong Boston!' Desisa shouted after he crossed the finish line in a version of the 'Boston Strong' motto that became the city's rallying cry after the April 15 2013 attack that killed three and injured 264. Kenya's Rotich had a more dramatic finish besting Ethiopia's Mare DiBaba in a sprint down Boylston Street turning in a time of 2 hours 24 minutes and 55 seconds. Security was high near the start line in Hopkinton along the 26.2 mile (42.16 km) course and around the finish line in Boston in recognition of the bombing of the 2013 race one of the most visible attacks on US soil since Sept 11 2001. Desisa unseated reigning champion Meb Keflezighi of California whose 2014 victory marked the first time that a US man had won the race in three decades. Keflezighi finished eighth. The elite men's and women's fields kept large packs for the first half of the race with runners mindful of the early breakaway that set the stage for Keflezighi's 2014 victory. The race comes during a pause in the trial of Dzohkhar Tsarnaev convicted this month of killing three and injuring 264 in the 2013 bombing of the elite race. Prosecutors and defense attorneys on Tuesday are due to begin presenting another series of witnesses before the jury decides whether Tsarnaev will be sentenced to death or to life in prison without possibility of parole. The idea of putting Tsarnaev a 21-year-old ethnic Chechen to death remains controversial in Boston where polls show a deeply divided public. Four victims of the bombing including the families of two of the people killed by the bombs and a couple who lost legs in the blast have now made public statements opposing seeking death for Tsarnaev. 'If there is anyone who deserves the ultimate punishment it is the defendant. However we must overcome the impulse for vengeance' said Jessica Kensky and Patrick Downes who both lost legs in the attack in a statement. 'We believe that the best way to move forward and achieve our goals is a life sentence in prison without the opportunity for parole.' Last week the parents of 8-year-old Martin Richard the youngest to die in the attack made a similar statement. In both cases the argument was not one of philosophical opposition to capital punishment but a practical one that a sentence of life in prison without possibility of parole could spare the families and public further weeks of emotionally charged testimony and possibly years of appeals. In addition to attracting elite runners competing for the $830500 in prize money the world's oldest annual marathon is a mecca for dedicated amateurs who work for years to meet the strict age-graded time cutoffs to earn a coveted spot in the field. Crowds of dedicated amateurs huddled in light rain and 43 degree Fahrenheit (6 C) weather as they awaited the start of the race. Runner Shannon McGinn a 39-year-old therapist said she was not too worried about the temperatures and was more focused on her memories of the bombing having run in 2013. 'Being back here is emotional for me' McGinn said. 'It's very stressful but I find it important to run anyway. I want to be here.' Results Men's 1. Lelisa Desisa (Ethiopia) 2:09:17 2. Yemane Tsegay (Ethiopia) 2:09:48 3. Wilson Chebet (Kenya) 2:10:22 4. Bernard Kipyego (Kenya) 2:10:47 5. Wesley Korir (Kenya) 2:10:49 6. Frankline Chepkwony (Kenya) 2:10:52 7. Dathan Ritzenhein (US) 2:11:20 8. Mebrahtom Keflezighi (US) 2:12:42 9. Tadese Tola (Ethiopia) 2:13:35 10. Vitaliy Shafar (Ukraine) 2:13:52 11. Matthew Tegenkamp (US) 2:13:52 12. Jeff Eggleston (US) 2:14:17 13. Lusapho April (South Africa) 2:16:25 14. Nicholas Arciniaga (US) 2:18:02 15. Danilo Goffi (Italy) 2:18:44 16. Sage Canaday ((US) 2:19:12. Women's 1. Caroline Rotich (Kenya) 2:24:55 2. Mare Dibaba (Ethiopia) 2:24:59 3. Buzunesh Deba (Ethiopia) 2:25:09 4. Desiree Linden (US) 2:25:39 5. Sharon Cherop (Kenya) 2:26:05. 6. Caroline Kilel (Kenya) 2:26:40 7. Aberu Kebede (Ethiopia) 2:26:52 8. Shure Demise Ware (Ethiopia) 2:27:14 9. Shalane Flanagan (US) 2:27:47 10. Joyce Chepkirui (Kenya) 2:29:07 11. Aleksandra Duliba (Belarus) 2:29:23 12. Lisa Christina Nemec (Croatia) 2:35:18 13. Adriana Nelson (US) 2:38:47 14. Megumi Amako (Japan) 2:39:08 15. Hilary Dionne (US) 2:40:42 16. Lauren Philbrook (US) 2:41:17.
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.