FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Lelisa Desisa Wins Second Boston Marathon Crown In Three Year Span
By James O'Brien
In 2013, Ethiopia's Lelisa Desisa stormed to victory in the 117th Boston
Marathon. Twelve months later, he returned with a weight of expectation on
his shoulders; the result was a DNF. In 2015 he came to Boston with a point
to prove - which he did in demonstrative fashion after a race that was epic
from gun to tape, with more plot twists than a soap opera. Desisa stayed
strong through less than ideal conditions, breaking the tape on Boylston
Street in 2:09:17.
Approaching the 10:00 a.m. start in Hopkinton, the weather was cause for as
much conjecture as the contenders. How cold would it be? Was the
anticipated rain storm going to come to pass? How much of a factor would
the wind be? With the forecast changing almost by the minute, the
prevailing conditions were as much of an unknown as the ultimate winner. By
the time gun sounded, though, the rain had not arrived, the wind was calm,
and the temperatures were chilly, though not dire. That would certainly
change as the race unfolded and the blustery winds and rain swept through.
But, for the early miles at least, conditions were good for fast running.
Ethiopia's Tadese Tola bolted from the starting line with the evident
intention of ensuring that some heat would be injected into the
proceedings. Clearly, he - and, no doubt, many of his peers - had no
intention of letting any contender charge to an early and unassailable
lead, as Meb Keflezighi had done in 2014.
This year was to be different. Tola towed the field through an opening mile
of 4:40; his compatriot Gebre Gebremariam kept it going through two miles
at a pace only a hair slower and the scene was set for a barn burner.
Through the ensuing rolling miles, you only had to blink to see a new face
at the front of the pack. Tola kept himself prominent, as did Gebremariam.
Desisa took a turn, as did Boston debutant Yemane Adhane Tsegay from
Ethiopia. It was a revolving door of self-appointed pace-makers, all
running with one intent: keep it moving.
At the 5K, the split of 14:42 illustrated that this was going to be
anything but easy. Gebremariam, twice a third place finisher here, fronted
the pack, but in close formation were Desisa, Tola, two-time world marathon
champion Abel Kirui (KEN), four-time world half marathon champion Zersenay
Tedesse (ETH), last year's second placer Wilson Chebet (KEN), 2012 champion
Wesley Korir, defending champion Meb Keflezighi, three of Meb's US
teammates - Nick Arciniaga, Matt Tegenkamp and Dathan Ritzenhein - plus a
clutch of other world class performers - 17 in total. Notably missing, at
this early stage, was Patrick Makau, former world record holder at 2:03:08,
who inexplicably had stepped off the course not to be seen again.
With the field maintaining close to 2:04 pace, it was inevitable that there
would soon be some attrition. Desisa maintained his position at the
forefront, pushing it along in a manner that could have been surmised to be
foolish. But push it he did, with Tola, Tsegay, Gebremariam and most of the
gang close by. US hopes took an early blow, though, with Tegenkamp and
Ritzenhein being among the first casualties. As the pace waned momentarily,
the US duo managed to get back on terms; but it was a momentary flirtation.
The leaders hammered onward and Tegenkamp and Ritzenhein were off the back.
The 5 mile marker was passed in 23:50 with Tola holding the lead and a pack
of 13 hovering on his shoulder. At 10 miles, the split was 48:10. The pack
was holding tight - with two Americans, Meb and Arciniaga in its midst.
Tegenkamp and Ritzenhein were gone - except that nobody told the latter. As
the pace eased marginally - 12 miles in 58:10, 13 miles in 1:03:27; a 2:08
tempo, down from the previous 2:04 - Ritzenhein forged his way back into
contention. Having been well off the pace, the Rockford, Mich., based
three-time Olympian, surged back with such impetus that, by the time the
leaders reached the half way mark (1:04:00), the American was at the
forefront, pushing the pace with Tsegay hanging on his shoulder.
Not only was this a remarkable change of fortune, but the ease with which
Ritzenhein cruised from the outhouse to the penthouse fanned the flames of
hope among spectators that, yes, an American could win this race again.
Meb, after all, was still there, too, along with Arciniaga. Half the race
gone; three Americans in contention and looking good. But there was a
spoiler: immediately alongside them was a dozen or so of the world's finest
- Kirui, Korir, Gebremariam, Tola, Desisa, Frankline Chepkwony (KEN),
Wilson Chebet (KEN), Bernard Kipyego (KEN), and a handful more - all
looking as if the race hadn't yet begun. Which it hadn't. The hills were
coming.
Through 14 (1:08:23), 15 (1:13:24) and 16 miles (1:18:06), Ritzenhein
retained his place at the pole. Every so often Desisa or Tsegay or Tola
injected a turn of pace; but, Ritz was the rabbit, looking, it must be
said, consummately at ease. As every Boston Marathoner knows, however, the
miles from 16 to 21 are the determining factor in dreams coming true or
nightmares becoming reality. The climbs - three of them, collectively known
as the Newton Hills, culminating in Heartbreak - come almost immediately
after the right hand turn at the Newton Firehouse. Prior to that, the hills
are rolling; at this point they become significant.
Ritzenhein had been in the lead; but the moment the climb began, he drifted
to the back of the pack of 11. Korir surged to the front, his first turn as
pace-maker. Then it was Desisa's turn; then Tesgay's; then Chepkwony's. The
knot of leaders became a string and indications were that the race was on.
Cresting the first hill, however, the pace eased and the group congealed
once more, and - guess what? - Ritzenhein was back in the lead and looking
as smooth as ever. The 17 mile mark was passed in 1:23:30, a 5:24 mile, the
slowest of the race thus far. At 18, still climbing, the clock read
1:28:42, with all but Gebremariam hanging tight. Remaining in the fray were
Tsegay, Keflezighi, Desisa, Korir, Chepkwony, Chebet, Kipyego, Tola and
Ritzenhein, plus South Africa's Lusapho April, an intimidating group, with
nobody giving any indication of who was frisky and who was fried.
Through 20 miles (1:39:01), approaching the crest of Heartbreak Hill,
Ritzenhein continued to press as the pack of 10 fanned out across the road.
At 21, another hard fought mile was reflected in the 1:44:26/5:25 split;
but Ritzenhein kept hammering.
Once the hills are conquered, though, the Boston course begins phase three.
Phase 1, from Hopkinton to the Newton Firehouse is rolling and
freewheeling; Phase 2, the Newton Hills, are a grind, pure and simple;
Phase 3, is a flat out blast into Boston. Broad straights, long, sweeping
descents, raucous crowds. If you've got anything left at all, this is where
you lay it on the line; and, if you haven't, this is where your longest day
begins.
As the 22 mile mark approached, Tsegay put his foot down and the realracing
began. Ritzenhein was gone almost immediately, accompanied by April. Along
with Tsegay in the seven man pack were Desisa, Keflezighi, Korir, Chebet,
Kipyego and Chepkwony. But Desisa was looking powerful, apparently not at
all fatigued by his several turns at the front in the earlier miles. The 22
mile mark was passed in 1:49:13 (4:47) and 23 in 1:53:55 (4:42). Desisa was
flying, Tsegay was hanging close and everybody else was suffering.
Chepkwony, Chebet, Korir, Kipyego and the defender Keflezighi all gave
ground and it was down to just two.
Keflezighi's hopes of victory may have been done, but drama remained. As
the pace increased and he attempted to cover, he grabbed a water bottle and
took a slug that went down the wrong way - badly. "Desisa was pushing
hard," he explained later. "I responded, but I was carrying my water
bottle. I took water and it didn't go down well. I had to stop five times
to throw up. I had felt comfortable the whole way. I didn't have any
problems before that."
While Keflezighi dealt with his issues, the leaders were flying. Desisa was
the aggressor, forging onward with less than three miles remaining and
opening a full 20 meter lead on Tsegay. At 24 (1:58:31/4:36), the chaser
narrowed the margin to five meters, then to zero, and with the winner still
to be decided, Tsegay visibly put his head down and surged. It should have
been a decisive blow; in fact, it was. It was Tsegay's gasp. Desisa
weathered the challenge, then surged away, creating an ever-widening margin
that brought him through 25 miles in 2:03:23/4:52 and to the finish line in
2:09:17. Tsegay was as jubilant in second as he was exhausted, waving to
the raucous crowd, crossing the finish line 35 seconds down in 2:09:48.
Chebet, second here in 2014, held on for third in 2:10:22. Keflezighi
gutted it out, placing eighth in 2:12:42 - "I wanted to get to the finish
line. It just took a long time" - though he had to concede to Ritzenhein in
the closing miles, who edged through to seventh in 2:11:20.
"I'm happy and excited for my second victory," Desisa stated, as he should
have been, given his $150,000 first place prize. "I saw in 2013 where to
stop and hold back and where the ups and downs are. I worked with my coach
to prepare for the course better and did more training that I did in 2013.
During the race, after 35K, knowing who was around me, I knew I was going
to win because my speed was greater than theirs."
Commented the deposed champion, Keflezighi: "Congrats to Lelisa and all of
the runners here. We all worked so hard. I hoped that it would come
together for me in the last mile or two, but I couldn't get it done. But I
gave it my best today."
In the master's competition - in which category Meb will be eligible to
compete next year - the victory went to Italy's Danilo Goffi (42) who
scored a resounding victory over Canada's Christian Mercier (40), 2:18:44
to 2:24:37. Mercier had a less comfortable finish, fending off a second
Italian, Said Boudalia (46), who crossed the line just 12 seconds later in
2:24:49.
Reflections on the 119th Boston Marathon will invariably include memories
of the wind and rain and cold. But those memories will certainly be
subsumed by remembrances of an inspiringly tough competition and a
masterful new winner.
Next year, the hallowed race turns 120. One can only speculate on the
marvelous, and celebratory, competition that will be in store for that
special occasion.
About the Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.)
Established in 1887, the Boston Athletic Association is a non-profit
organization with a mission of promoting a healthy lifestyle through
sports, especially running. The B.A.A.'s Boston Marathon is the world's
oldest annual marathon, and the organization manages other local events and
supports comprehensive charity, youth, and year-round running programs.
Since 1986, the principal sponsor of the Boston Marathon has been John
Hancock Financial. The Boston Marathon is part of the Abbott World Marathon
Majors, along with the international marathons in Tokyo, London, Berlin,
Chicago, and New York City. More than 60,000 runners will participate in
B.A.A. events in 2015. The 119th Boston Marathon will be held on Monday,
April 20, 2015. For more information on the B.A.A., please visit
wwww.baa.org
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