Wesley Korir, a 29-year-old Kenyan claimed the men’s title at Monday’s 116th Boston Marathon on the most scorching Patriots Day hereabouts since the infamous “Run for the Hoses’’ in 1976, running down countryman Levy Matebo in the final mile to win by 26 seconds in 2 hours, 12 minutes and 40 seconds. Except for Robert Kiproech Cheruiyot’s 2:14:13 clocking amid the wind and rain five years ago it was the slowest winning time since Geoff Smith’s 2:14:05 in 1985, the year before sponsor John Hancock began awarding prize money.
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Comments
Well done, Mr. Korir, and congrats to all who ran.
I realize Kenya is a poor, hot country. I also understand for many different reasons the people of Kenya are often superb road runners. However, one thing I don't understand is why the race in Boston is called and considered a "Boston Marathon." I am very curious to know just how many people from Boston area or Massachusetts run this race. Perhaps, at one stage of the 100 year time-line more runners were from the area, but that has to be a very long time ago. The Kenyans have won the race for the last 17 years! The Boston Marathon could be a 'qualifying event' for the world Olympics! The Association is paying expense free trips for competitors from around the world to come here and compete - but the majority of the crowd flock to search the runners and see their family members, friends, and neighbors running the race! Also, our locals raising money for various charitable events are cheered on . . . but somehow, I can't get too excited about an expert runner, winning the race when you know this is their 12 months of training versus many employed runners who train in their spare time and face the elements of America's seasons to run for the love of it. All the while knowing they will never be the first one across the finish line as long as the association keeps paying others to do exactley that. Is this the beginning of America's "Hunger Games?"