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Americans Ryan Hall and Kara Goucher finished third in their respective divisions at the 2009 Boston Marathon this morning. Goucher is from Duluth, MN. From USA Today:
BOSTON — Ryan Hall and Kara Goucher led significant portions of Monday's 113th Boston Marathon, but the U.S. victory drought at the world's oldest continuing 26.2-mile race continued as both finished third.
Deriba Merga of Ethiopia won the men's race to thwart Hall, who was seeking to be the first U.S. men's champion since Greg Meyer in 1983, and Kenya's Robert Cheruiyot, who was attemptying to become the first person to win four consecutive Boston titles.
Merga, who took control at about 18 miles, finished in 2 hours, 8 minutes, 42 seconds. Kenya's Daniel Rono was second (2:09:32), eight seconds ahead of Hall.
Salina Kosgei of Kenya won the women's race, which turned into a stretch duel and the closest finish in the history of the race. Kosgei went back and forth with defending champion Dire Tune in the last 700 yards, winning in 2:32:16, one second ahead of Tune. Goucher finished in 2:32:25.
Tune, who won last year's race by two seconds, collapsed after crossing the finish line. Race spokesman Jack Fleming said Tune would not be available because she was receiving medical attention; he did not elaborate.
BOSTON — Ryan Hall and Kara Goucher led significant portions of Monday's 113th Boston Marathon, but the U.S. victory drought at the world's oldest continuing 26.2-mile race continued as both finished third.
Deriba Merga of Ethiopia won the men's race to thwart Hall, who was seeking to be the first U.S. men's champion since Greg Meyer in 1983, and Kenya's Robert Cheruiyot, who was attemptying to become the first person to win four consecutive Boston titles.
Merga, who took control at about 18 miles, finished in 2 hours, 8 minutes, 42 seconds. Kenya's Daniel Rono was second (2:09:32), eight seconds ahead of Hall.
Salina Kosgei of Kenya won the women's race, which turned into a stretch duel and the closest finish in the history of the race. Kosgei went back and forth with defending champion Dire Tune in the last 700 yards, winning in 2:32:16, one second ahead of Tune. Goucher finished in 2:32:25.
Tune, who won last year's race by two seconds, collapsed after crossing the finish line. Race spokesman Jack Fleming said Tune would not be available because she was receiving medical attention; he did not elaborate.