FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Cheruiyot Breaks CR in Boston; Hall Fastest American Ever at Race
BOSTON - In the fastest Boston Marathon in its 114-year legacy, Robert
Kiprono Cheruiyot of Kenya put on a dominant performance, while Ryan Hall
became the fastest American in the history of the race with his
fourth-place finish.
On a gorgeous Monday morning, with temperatures in the low 50s and a wind
that was more favorable than not, Cheruiyot put the pedal down in the 16th
and 17th miles, breaking away with defending champion Deriba Merga. Despite
a gimpy hamstring, Cheruiyot then dropped Merga to win in 2:05:52. Only 21
years old, Cheruiyot crushed the course record of 2:07:14, run by four-time
Boston champ Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot in 2006.
Tekeste Kebede of Ethiopia moved up to finish second in 2:07:23, with Merga
third in 2:08:39.
Hall ran a race eerily similar to his 2009 Boston effort, leading the pack
almost from the gun. At various points in the race, Hall dropped back into
the pack only to resume the lead, but at 10 miles he had dropped 10 seconds
off the lead while American 2004 Olympic marathon silver medalist Meb
Keflezighi held steady with the pack. Hall slowly worked back as the pace
flagged to 5-minute pace at mile 11, but the hammering of Cheruiyot and
Merga of 4:38 and 4:42 miles broke up the pack for good.
After dropping to sixth, Hall moved back up to place fourth in 2:08:41, the
fastest time by an American at Boston. Bob Kempainen ran 2:08:47 to place
seventh in 1994.
The 2009 ING New York City Marathon winner, Keflezighi put on a strong
performance despite missing significant training this winter after injuring
his left knee. After missing two weeks of running and running at half his
normal mileage levels for several weeks more, Keflezighi had enough fitness
to run with the leaders in Boston. He held on for fifth place in 2:09:26,
crossing the finish line with a distinct limp that favored his left leg. It
was the third-fastest marathon of Meb's career.
The women's race in Boston went from an apparent runaway to an exciting
finish. Two-time Chevron Houston Marathon winner Teyba Erkesso of Ethiopia
took the lead in the hills of Wellesley, eventually opening a lead of more
than 2 minutes. But stomach upset and a grueling pace that dropped into the
range of 5:20 per mile at times hobbled the 27-year-old in the closing
miles.
Former competitive ballroom dancer Tatyana Pushkareva of Russia nearly
closed the gap, but Erkesso pulled herself together in the last 2 km to win
in 2:26:11, with Pushkareva second in 2:26:14. 2009 Boston Marathon
champion Salina Kosgei of Kenya again had to sprint for her final place,
taking third in 2:28:25. Paige Higgins was the top American, placing 13th
in 2:36:00.
For complete results from the 114th Boston Marathon, visit www.baa.org
About USA Track & Field
USA Track & Field (USATF) is the National Governing Body for track and
field, long-distance running and race walking in the United States. USATF
encompasses the world's oldest organized sports, some of the most-watched
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participatory sport and more than 30 million adult runners in the United
States.
For more information on USATF, visit www.usatf.org
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