History Made at 2014 Boston Marathon
Not only were there more spectators and runners at today’s Boston Marathon than ever before, but history was also made at the finish line, as men’s elite runner, Meb Keflezighi, became the first American man to win the Boston Marathon since Greg Meyer did in 1983 with a personal best of 2:08:37.
Keflezighi had a huge lead of about 90 seconds with two miles ago, but he had that lead cut to six seconds in the last two miles by Wilson Chebet.
“Toward the end I was a little bit nervous,” said Keflezighi. “I came to the Citgo sign and I said, ‘I got one mile to go.’ I’m almost 39 and I just ran a personal best and just won the Boston Marathon.”
Keflezighi was born in Eritrea and moved to the United States when he was 12 years old. He trains in Mammoth Lakes, Calif and was a former cross country runner at UCLA.
There was also history made in the women’s race as Kenyan Rita Jeptoo finished at a record time of 2:18:57. This was Jeptoo’s third win, second consecutive, and as the native Kenyan crossed the finish line she stretched her arms and tilted her head to the sky.
The previous record, 2:20:43, was set by Margaret Okayo of Kenya in 2002.
Last year, Jeptoo finished with a time of 2:23:43, but her win was marred by the Boston Marathon bombings on Boylston Street, which exploded around 2:50 p.m.
From the wheelchair group, Tatyana McFadden won the race with a time of one hour, 35 minutes, and six seconds for the women.
“My time was pretty fast here in Boston, especially with all the climbs,” said McFadden after the race. “I was really happy with today. It’s just been a whirlwind and excitement and lots of training and hard work.”
Finally, from the men, Ernst F. Van Dyk of South Africa won the wheelchair discipline with a time of 1:20:36.
About one million spectators lined the course throughout the race from Hopkington to the finish line on Boylston Street.
“Past years the Sox would be on almost every TV in here with the marathon being on maybe a handful,” said Paul Miller, 37, as he downed a beer at the Game On! bar. “But this year, it’s not about them. It’s about us, this city, my city,” Miller said. “This year it doesn’t matter that the Sox are getting rocked, it just matters that they’re out there.”
More people in the bar were wearing Boston Strong blue and yellow than Red Sox red. “It’s the first time I can ever remember seeing more blue than red on Marathon Monday,” said John Boyle, 58. Boyle wore a navy blue pullover with a Red Sox logo.
He has spent Marathon Monday at home with his wife every year for the past 25 years, listening to the Sox on the radio and watching the marathon on TV. This year, he looked at his wife, Denise, and said: “We have to come out here and be with other Bostonians.”
Marathon 2014 Results
Wheelchair Women’s:
1. Tatyana McFadden, USA, 1:35:06
2. Wakako Tsuchida, JPN, 1:37:24
3. Susannah Scaroni, USA. 1:38:33
Wheelchair Men’s:
1. Ernst F. Van Dyk, RSA, 1:20:36
2. Kota Hokinoue, JPN, 1:21:14
3. Masazumi Soejima, JPN, 1:21:14
Elite Women’s:
1. Rita Jeptoo, KEN, 2:18:57
2. Buzunesh Deba, ETH, 2:19:59
3. Mare Dibaba, ETH, 2:20:35
Elite Men’s:
1. Meb Keflezighi, USA, 2:08:37
2. Wilson Chebet, KEN, 2:08:48
3. Frankline Chepwony, KEN, 2:08:50
(Justine Hofherr, Megan Turchi, Claire Felter, Nick Zelano and Andre Khatchaturian contributed to this report.)
Scenes from Kenmore Square
By Megan Turchi and Mikaela Lefrak
BU News Service
Archive: Live Stream
BU News Service reporters Jamie Bologna and Iris Moore
report live from above the Marathon Finish Line.
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Live Blog
The latest updates from Marathon 2014.
The Stories
Marathon 2014: Remembrance, Racing Forward
Last year the tragic events on Marathon Monday overtook a day that's normally upbeat and triumphant as athletes from around the world competed. This year's marathon stories look back and move forward with full coverage of Marathon 2014.
Press Conference: Elite Women
While Kenyan runner Rita Jeptoo defended her title as women's champion for the second year in a row, attention at a post-race press conference was focused on American Shalane Flanagan, who finished in sixth place.
Press Conference : Elite Men
At a press conference, following the race, champion of the men's division, Meb Keflezighi said that after last year's bombings, he wanted to win this year for the city and its people.
Families From Near and Far Cheer on Relatives Running Marathon
Minnesota family offers show of support for runner and city.
Natick Celebrates Boston Marathon
If the estimated turnout of 36,000 runners for this year’s marathon is accurate, then the people who ran through Natick today outnumbered the people who actually live there.
Foundation Helps Injured Rebuild
The 2013 Boston Marathon bombings left scores of athletes, many at the top of their game, suddenly trying to rebuild, one step at a time. But for one of last year’s runners, Scott Rigsby, a battle had already been won by the time he ran the course for the second time last year
Running to Remember a Common Experience
On a rainy Tuesday night, Shuheng Lin (GRS’16) started her daily training on the treadmill at the FitRec center. As one of seven people selected from the BU community, Lin will run this year’s 26.2-mile Boston Marathon on April 21, in honor of Lu Lingzi (GRS’13), one of the three victims of last year’s marathon bombings.
Businesses Expect Business as Usual
In the wake of last year's tragedy, businesses are gearing up for a return to business as usual. The Greater Boston Convention & Visitor’s Bureau estimated that the 2014 race will create nearly $176 million in revenues for businesses and charities. Story by John Hilliard.
A Runner, a Spectator Look Back on 2013
The months leading up to the 2014 marathon have been a time of recovery, reflection and remembrance of those who were injured and lost. As a look back to the 2013 Boston Marathon, these are the personal stories of Boston University graduates: runner Azeem Khan and spectator Montserrat Bravo. Story by Samantha Mellman.
Dynamic Duos: Able-bodied, Disabled Team up to Race
There are many famous duos in the world, Batman and Robin, Bonnie and Clyde, Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. And in Monday’s Marathon, there will be no shortages of dynamic duos on the race course. Story by By Natnicha Chuwiruch.
What the Marathon Means to...
The Boston Marathon route is in the backyard of Boston University, protected by the campus police force. BU police department spokesman Scott Pare tells Maria Martinolich how teamwork is what the Boston Marathon 2014 means to him.
An emergency medical technician says this year’s marathon proves the city’s resilience. This first responder talks about what the Boston Marathon 2014 means to him.
An elite runner explains that the Boston Marathon embodies what running is about and that this year’s event is also about healing. Maddy Hribar explains to BU News Service reporter Iris Moore what the Boston Marathon 2014 means to her.
This runner is inspired by the memory of fellow Boston University student Lingzi Lu, one of the marathon bombing victims last year. Chloe Wang tells BU News Service reporter Kirsten Johnson what the Boston Marathon 2014 means to her.
This marathoner trained for two years to cross the Boston Marathon finish line. But the run is for both a personal best and the global fight against cancer. Charity runner Maria Stavros tells BU News Service reporter Katrina Luketich what Marathon ’14 means to her.
A double amputee counseled one of last year’s bombing victims about their “new normal”. Seattle native Byron Speer shares the spirit of Boston Strong and tells BU student Iris Moore what the Marathon ’14 means to him.
Multimedia
Four days after the Marathon bombings one community seven miles from the finish line turned into ground zero in the pursuit of the alleged bombers. On April 19, 2013, Watertown transformed into a battle zone as scores of police surrounded the Tsarnaev brothers in the wee hours of the morning and unleashed more than a hundred rounds of ammunition. The older brother, Tamerlan, was killed on Laurel Street and many hours later his younger brother Dzhokhar was found bloody, but alive, hiding in boat on Franklin Street. Watertown had never seen anything like this. It is a quiet community with a mix of elegant Victorian homes and tightly knit two- and three-family houses. At one point Watertown boasted the largest Armenian population outside of Armenia and Armenian grocery stores and restaurants line the main streets. But for 20 hours last year, residents of Watertown were locked in their homes as SWAT teams searched through houses and yards and helicopters hovered overhead. Listen to their stories.
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- Audio - Watertown: A Neighborhood Remembers
Interactives
Interactives & Infographics - Learn More About the Boston Marathon.
Learn More About the Race Course
(Mouse over map to learn more about the marathon.)
Share Your Memories
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Audio: Watertown Stories
Test Your Knowledge
Timeline: Boston Marathon History
Timeline: 2013 Race, Bombings
Previous Coverage - Looking for more? Don't miss our earlier coverage of Marathon 2014.
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Rucking On: Military Men and Women Walk 26.2 Miles for the Fallen
- Night Riders: Hundreds of Cyclists Bike Marathon Route at Midnight
- Photo Gallery: Expo, Bib Pickup
- Support From the Other Side: Double Amputee’s Foundation Aids Bombing Victims
Race Course Time Lapse Video
Can’t run 26.2 miles? Don’t fret.
Check out this timelapse of the entire Boston Marathon route from Hopkinton to Boylston and experience the race from your chair.