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By:
Harrison Maina | ||||||||||||
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May,13-2018 13:13:09
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BOSTON__USA's California native Desi Linden who lives in Michigan but occasionally trains in the Kenyan highlands through her Kenya Project initiative, and Japan's Yuki Kawauchi won both women's and men's race respectively while aided by extreme rainy, windy and bone chilling, cold temperatures in the mid-30's to snatch the annual Olympic glory enjoyed by Kenyans for decades at the words most iconic marathon. Linden and Kawauchi dethroned Kenya's two defending Champions, Geoffrey Kirui and Edna Kiplagat giving the fans and USA media a field day of wild celebrations with amazement after 33 years drought since an American woman won the epic course. Linden stormed to the finish line with an admirable time of 2: 39:54, far ahead of Kenya's Edna Kiplagat, the women's race defending champion who barely struggled to finish in the top then when she managed to finish 8th. On the men's side, Kawauchi from Japan powered his way to the finish line with a big smile when he passed Kenya's other defending champion, Geoffrey Kirui at the Kenmore Square section near the end of the race after the Kenyan developed an injury to his left thigh that had to be taped for him to keep running. Kawauchi finished with a time of 2.15:58 while Kirui limped to the finish line second with a time of 2:18:23 while covered in a plastic wrap to protect against the drenching rain and cold.
"This was unbelievable. The rain and cold was too much but I gave it my best. I led most of the way untile near the end when I felt an injury to my leg that almost made me quit. But I am happy for the Japanese guy to win. It was the most difficult race I have ever seen," said Kirui while speaking to Ajabu Africa News . "However, I will run again even if the weather was worse that it is. We have to compete in all conditions," added the former Boston marathon champion and London Marathon winner. Kirui's sentiments were echoed by Edna Kiplagat said she would also run again in Boston in similar weather conditions. All other Kenyan runners dropped out of the race and had to be treated for hypothermia at the medical camp. Most Ethiopian runners, who usually compete for top honors with Kenyans at the Boston Marathon, were unable to finish the race either with none appearing in the top 10 position for both men and women races. "They put us in warm blankets for over 30 minutes after we finished since we were getting very sick. We Kenyans have never seen anything like this," Edna told Ajabu Media. Another 80 year old Japanese runner won the over 80 years category, shocking fans and Boston marathon officials alike.
Speaking to Ajabu Africa News, Desi Linden, who lives in California but born in Michigan, and occasionally travels to Kenya for training through her Kenya project initiative said that she was excited to finally win the race after missing the title by barely 3 seconds behind Kenya's Caroline Kilel in 2011. Linden sat next to Edna Kiplagat and her daughter during the awards ceremony and spoke a few Swahili words with Ajabu Africa News, a testament of her love for Kenyan culture. Congratulating all runners, officials and volunteers who took part in the spectacular 122nd edition of the Boston Marathon that will now go down in history books as the most difficult ever, Tom Grilk, the Executive Director of the Boston Athletics Association said that it was amazing that only 3 runners ended up being transported to local hospitals from the medical tents set up right at the finish line with serious conditions that needed further treatment. "I congratulate all of you who took part in this race, battled the most difficult elements we have ever seen in the history of this race where the misery index was very high," said Grilk during the Awards Ceremony event traditionally held later in the evening at the Fairmont Copley Hotel. "We deeply thank all the runners, officials and volunteers for a fantastic effort. This is what makes the Boston Marathon the most sought out road race in the world," he added. The treacherous weather conditions were so bad that many Kenyan Diaspora marathon fans that usually stream to the finish line and assemble near a large outdoor large TV screen set up nearby for fans to follow the race from start to finish did not show up.
However, a few diehard fans were spotted among the thinned out crowd on Boylston Street braving the rain and cheering on their runners. Several fans later made it to the Awards ceremony to the delight of the runners who felt encouraged by meeting fellow countrymen amid the difficult situation. "I have never seen anything like this. Running in this weather conditions today is difficult for a Kenyan beyond any imaginable measure as we are not built for this kind of weather. We have to give it up to Kirui and Edna for finishing in top ten," said Wilson Kiriungi, CEO of the Run with Kenyans organization based in Boston. "But I am really happy that Desi won the women's race though. To be quite honest, i was rooting for her win as this will make the sport much more competitive and thrilling when other people realize they also have a shot against the Kenyans once in a while," added Kiriungi during an interview with Ajabu Africa News. However, US marathon fans and news media went wild with the win that ended a 33 year old drought since an American woman won the race. "I am so excited by Desi's victory thanks to the weather even though she posted the slower time than winners in past marathons," said an American business man from Houston Texas who had come to attend the Boston marathon with friends. "This was the slowest marathon ever but hey, a win is a win, just look at who we beat--it's the Kenyans!" exclaimed then man from Texas. The Kenyan runners and fans promised to be back next year to reclaim the glory, hoping weather conditions will be much different, while most American fans hoped weather will be as it was on Monday.
Video: The Kenya Project by Desi Linden | ||||||||||||
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Source:
AJABU AFRICAN NEWS
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