The 121st Boston Marathon got underway Monday morning as racers and observers remember the bombing attack, which took place four years ago on April 15, 2013.
Kenyan policewoman Edna Kiplagat won the women's race in 2:21:52, needing only one try in Boston to add it to wins in London, New York and Los Angeles.
The Kenyan maintained her long lead despite briefly stopping in the final miles when she realized she had grabbed a rival's water bottle from an aid station and went back to return it.
American Jordan Hasay, making her debut at the distance, was third and Desi Linden was fourth - the first time since 1991 that two US women have finished in the top four.
He had just completed the Boston Marathon in 2013 when two pressure cooker bombs detonated near the finish line, killing three people and injuring hundreds more.
Both were making their Boston debuts.
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On their way to their assigned seats 24 B and C, Hohl and Maxwell noticed a male passenger spread across their seats, napping. " We thought, not a big deal, it's not like we are trying to jump up into a first-class seat ", he told the station.
"When I was running, my body was feeling good", said Kiplagat, who was greeted at the finish line by two of her children.
Buzunesh Deba was anointed the 2014 Boston champion in December - more than two years after the race - when Rita Jeptoo was stripped of the title for testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs. Rupp, also running his first Boston, trailed by 21 seconds.
HAIL HAYLEHayle gave Ethiopia its first-ever sweep past year when he pulled away from countryman and two-time champion (2013, 2015) Lelisa Desisa with about a mile to go to join Baysa on the victory stand.
"I'm at a point in my career where I feel like I can compete with anybody", he said this week.
Marathon Monday, or Patriots' Day, is considered one of great sports days of the year in Boston.
Boston Mayor Marty Walsh stresses that there are no credible threats to this year's marathon.
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