Marylander Tatyana McFadden Wins Boston Wheelchair Division
BOSTON (AP/WJZ) -- Marylander Tatyana McFadden has won the women's wheelchair race at the Boston Marathon for the second straight year.
Jessica Kartalija reports after the Clarksville native took the top spot, she did something incredible.
McFadden, who is from Howard County, celebrated her 25th birthday Monday and listened as "The Star-Spangled Banner" played on Boylston Street one year after the bombings that left three dead and more than 260 injured.
"It was definitely a great birthday present. It was a wonderful day with great support from the crowd throughout the entire course, and that was what was needed," McFadden said.
McFadden raced for the team MR8 in honor of Martin Richards' foundation. Richards was a young boy killed in the attack last year.
"I was at the fundraising with the family and the dad said 'Please run for Martin,' and I said 'I promise I will.' I run for Martin. I run for his family, and I run for any others affected by the bombing last year," McFadden said.
In a gesture to honor the survivors, victims and heroes of the bombings, McFadden gave away her gold-dipped olive wreath shortly after the ceremony.
She gave that wreath to Carlos Arredondo, a cowboy-hat wearing spectator who could be seen in several photos aiding bombing victims at last year's race.
McFadden crossed the finish line in 1 hour, 35 minutes, 6 seconds.
She also won the 2013 New York City Marathon women's wheelchair race after taking the titles in Boston, London and Chicago last year.
No other athlete has won those four races in the same year.
McFadden was born in Russia and lived in an orphanage as a child.
(Copyright 2013 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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Tatyana McFadden (Photo from WBZ-TV's Paula Ebben)