10:34 a.m. - Joshua Cassidy wins men’s wheelchair race; Shirley Reilly is women’s champ
There was little suspense as the men's wheelchair race unfolded regarding who would win.
Canada's Joshua Cassidy prevailed by more than three minutes over Australia's Kurt Finley, finishing in an official time of 1 hour, 18 minutes, 25 seconds.
What did remain in suspense as the race concluded was whether Cassidy would set a course record.
According to the time on the clock as he broke the tape, Cassidy's 1:18:25 edged the previous course record by two seconds. After he was initially informed it wasn't a record, it was confirmed that it was.
Advertisement
"Once I got to the top of Heartbreak [Hill], I knew I could win the race,'' said Cassidy. "So off I went, battling on my own the rest of the way to see if I could get the record."
Cassidy took the lead in the second mile and never trailed again, taking a six-second lead at the 7-mile mark, then pulling away by the 12-mile mark.
The women's wheelchair race was more dramatic, with Shirley Reilly of the United States edging Japan's Wakako Tsuchida. Reilly won by approximately the length of her wheelchair, setting a personal best in her sixth Boston Marathon with a time of 1:37:36. Tsuchida was one second behind.
10:04 a.m. - Early notes from the Boston Marathon
The men's race is officially underway, with the 1-mile split at 4 minutes and 51 seconds pace. The women have passed the 6-mile mark, with a split of 5:58, while Canada's Joshua Cassidy leads the elite race at 37:40 through 13 miles.
The heat, of course, is a major concern. When the elite men departed Hopkinton, the temperature was 73 degrees, up from 68 at the start of the wheelchair race.
Some familiar faces are missing from last year's race. American Ryan Hall, who finished fourth a year ago, is not here. Neither is Kara Goucher, who finished fifth among women a year ago, or runner-up Desiree Davila.
Advertisement
Geoffrey Mutai of Kenya, who set a course record last year (2:03:02), is here to defend his victory. One American to watch is Nicholas Arciniaga, who is running Boston for the second time.