See the triumph of Marathon Monday with our recap of the race
With a spirited, last mile-surge, Hellen Obiri, 33, crossed the Boston Marathon finish line on Boylston Street as a champion. It was only her second marathon to date — and she did it in a time of 2:21:38.
Awaiting her with a beaming smile and look of tender admiration was her 7-year-old daughter, Tania.
Obiri, of Kenya, finished sixth in New York this past November. She is a two-time world champion and two-time Olympic silver medalist in the 5k, according to her World Athletics profile.
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After her win, as she stood by her husband, Tom Nyaundi, and their daughter, Obiri said she had been anxious about racing in Boston given the strength of the field she would be competing against — and the fact her “heart was somewhere else.” She moved to the United States just three weeks ago.
But her coach convinced her and she persevered, buoyed by the overwhelming support of her family.
“It’s a surprise to me,” Obiri said with a smile, the New York Times reported. She added that Tania often motivates her, asking her inquisitive questions like, “You can’t be number one?”
“So I try to make them happy because sometimes I don’t want to go, but something tells you to try to keep on fighting,” she continued. “So I kept on fighting.”
When Tania was asked by a WCVB reporter how she thought her mom performed, she looked up with a grin and wide eyes. “Good,” she said.
She had no pointers to offer her mom, responding an affirmative “yeah,” when asked if she thought Obiri did well in the fabled road race.
The sweet interaction between mother and daughter easily won over hearts online, with many calling the moment “adorable” and the “highlight of the race.”
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Your 2023 Boston Marathon winner, Hellen Obiri of Kenya pic.twitter.com/9Fpf0e0sab
— Edward Fitzpatrick (@FitzProv) April 17, 2023
Beautiful moment at the finish line of the Boston Marathon, as Women's Professional winner Hellen Obiri is greeted by her daughter and family. pic.twitter.com/N6x0sqcciC
— WCVB-TV Boston (@WCVB) April 17, 2023
Is there anything more adorable than Hellen Obiri and her daughter?
— Dana Giordano (@dana_gio6) April 17, 2023
When Helen Obiri won and her daughter was there at the finish line waiting for her 🥹💙💛 #BostonMarathon
— Ches Hutchinson (@Chestine21) April 17, 2023
Not to mention that @emmajbates hit the @wog2024 standard!
— Dr. Jaclyn B. Caccese, PhD (@jaclyn_caccese) April 17, 2023
Although the highlight of the race is still @hellen_obiri daughter celebrating at the finish! @bostonmarathon #BostonMarathon #BostonStrong https://t.co/9iCQ1ncIYp
Read more about the Boston Marathon
- Evans Chebet defends his Boston Marathon men’s title after Eliud Kipchoge fades on Heartbreak Hill
- Kenya’s Hellen Obiri surges in last mile to capture women’s elite race in Boston Marathon
- ‘It was really surreal:’ How Emma Bates finished as top American in women’s field
- ‘Today was a tough day for me’: Eliud Kipchoge reflects on his sixth-place finish at the Boston Marathon
- Marcel Hug sets course record, Susannah Scaroni overcomes loose wheel in winning Boston Marathon wheelchair divisions
Shannon Larson can be reached at shannon.larson@globe.com. Follow her @shannonlarson98.