An American man has won the Boston Marathon for the first time in more than 30 years.
Meb Keflezighi, a 38-year-old immigrant from war-torn Eritrea, finished Monday’s race in an unofficial time of 2:08:37.
The last time an American won the men’s race was in 1983 when Greg Meyer won and the last time an American woman has won was in 1985 when Lisa Larsen Weidenback came in first.
Rita Jeptoo of Kenya won Monday’s women’s race in 2:18:57, a new course record.
This isn’t the first time Keflezighi has brought marathon glory back to the United States. In 2009, Keflezighi was the first American man to win the New York City Marathon since Alberto Salazar won in 1982.
Keflezighi – pronounced ka-FLEZ-ghee – and his family came to the U.S. in the mid-1980s after fleeing their native Asmara, Eritrea. They settled in Italy for a short time before making their way to San Diego.
More than 30,000 racers started the Boston Marathon on Monday morning under tight security following last year’s bombing which killed three and injured hundreds of others.
For the first time in 31 years, an American man wins the Boston Marathon http://t.co/yARKWgNX9Y pic.twitter.com/516geQReO8
— Post Sports (@PostSports) April 21, 2014
Meb Keflezighi becomes first American male to win Boston Marathon since 1983 – http://t.co/wjJ9rc8hh3 / pic.twitter.com/6780jTj9rd
— Sporting News (@sportingnews) April 21, 2014
Incredible moment. See Meb Keflezighi cross the finish line at the Boston Marathon: http://t.co/9FdqOXajWH pic.twitter.com/Ck652QQkkJ
— USA TODAY Sports (@USATODAYsports) April 21, 2014
Boston remains strong despite the attack. Nearly 36,000 signed up to run the race – 9,000 more than usual – to show support and defiance.
And the bombing did nothing to deter on-lookers this year. A record crowd of one million people – twice the usual number – was expected to watch.
PHOTO: Rita Jeptoo of Kenya became a 3-time winner of the Boston Marathon when she won today http://t.co/EpC5X2Fses pic.twitter.com/r2oYMoUFTS
— The Boston Globe (@BostonGlobe) April 21, 2014
Image via YouTube