Area Runners Compete In Boston Marathon

Several area runners finished the Boston Marathon. Yale Westjohn, the son of George and Bev Westjohn of Effingham competed in his third Boston Marathon and finished with a time of 3:14.51. That was a new personal record for him.

Also finishing from Effingham were David Price in 3:29.55 and Roch Hartke in 3:32.07.

By Cindy Boren

Washington Post

BOSTON -- Lelisa Desisa, the winner of the Boston Marathon that was marred by terrorist bombings two years ago, won the men’s division of the Boston Marathon on Monday, easily outpacing the field.

Desisa, the Ethiopian runner who is a Boston favorite for donating his 2013 medal to the city, waved to the crowd as he crossed the finish line in 2 hours, 9 minutes and 17 seconds. “I am happy to win, No. 1,” he said at the finish line, “and for Boston — Boston 2013!”

Yemane Adhane Tsegay of Ethiopia was second in 2:09:48, followed by Kenya’s Wilson Chebet in 2:10:22. Dathan Ritzenhein was the fastest American man, finishing seventh in 11:20. Meb Keflezighi, the American runner bidding to win for the second straight year, finished eighth in 12:42.

In one of the the closest finishes ever in the Boston Marathon women’s division, Caroline Rotich of Kenya outkicked Mare Dibaba of Ethiopia over the last 500 feet of the 26.2-mile course, winning in 2 hours, 24 minutes, 55 seconds — four seconds ahead of Dibaba.

Buzinesh Deba of Ethiopia was third and Des Linden of the U.S. was fourth. Shalane Flanagan of the U.S. finished ninth in 2:27.47.