Boston Marathon: Kenyan’s world record might not be recognized internationally?
With the wind at his back and the Newton Hills on his heels, Geoffrey Mutai of Kenya technically won the Boston Marathon in world record time. But the Boston Marathon record time of 2:03:02 might not be recognized by international marathon bodies because of the wind and downhill factors on Boston’s legendary 26.2-mile course.
In 2008 Haile Gebrselassie ran 2:03:59 in Berlin.
“I had no idea it was a world record [time],” Mutai, 29, said of his first Boston Marathon. “I’ve been dreaming about this.”
Despite the discrepancy, the race’s Executive Director Tom Grilk said a $50,000 world-record bonus will be honored.
“We had a stunning performance, I will leave it to those who craft those definitions the use of those definitions,” Grilk said. “I don’t know if Boston is or isn’t excluded from the record process. I will let them decide that.”
Ryan Hall also set an American marathon record, 2:04:58, finishing fourth in his first major race coaching himself and coming off a health issue.
“I was just enjoying the streets, enjoying the neighborhoods,” Hall said. “I love Boston. I feel like I should move here. I feel like a hometown boy. I love it."
Defending champ Robert Kiprono Cheruiyot, who set the previous Boston record last year (2:05:52) dropped out of the race in Framingham.
Davila pushes Kenyan to the line
Desiree Davila almost upset the Africans to become the first woman from the United States to win the Boston Marathon in 26 years.
Davila went back and forth down Boylston Street with Kenya’s Caroline Kilel who ultimately won in 2:22:36.
“Even through the last couple strides I thought ‘Maybe there’s a little more left, maybe there’s a little more’” Davila said after finishing second in 2:22:38. “I just couldn’t pull it off. That’s all I had. She was better today.”
