Meb Keflezighi First American To Win Boston Marathon In 31 Years
BOSTON (CBS) - Meb Keflezighi of San Diego, California won the 2014 Boston Marathon Monday with an official time of 2:08:37.
Keflezighi is the first American man to win Boston since 1983 when Greg Meyer took the title.
Keflezighi, 38, took sole control of the race in Wellesley and held the lead the rest of the way.
Check: Top Finishers
He withstood a challenge down the stretch from Wilson Chebet of Kenya, who finished second, 11 seconds back, in 2:08:48.
Congrats to @RunMeb and @ShalaneFlanagan for making America proud! All of today's runners showed the world the meaning of #BostonStrong. -bo
— White House Archived (@ObamaWhiteHouse) April 21, 2014
"I was going to give it everything that I had for the people (of Boston) and I have the four victims on my bib number," Keflezighi told WBZ-TV.
Read: 2014 Men's Winner Meb Keflezighi Honors Boston Marathon Bombing Victims
"When the Red Sox won (the World Series) and put the trophy right there (at the finish line), I said I want to win it as a runner for Boston."
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Carl Stevens reports
At the post-race news conference, Keflezighi revealed this:
Meb Keflezghi raised $10k for the Martin Richard Foundation: "Martin was beyond his age... His legacy will live on for a long time."
— Bernice Freedman (@BerniceNews) April 21, 2014
Watch: Meb Keflezighi talks to WBZ-TV
Two other Americans finished in the top 10.
Nicholas Arciniaga of Flagstaff, Arizona was seventh in 2:11:47.
Jeffrey Eggleston of Boulder, Colorado came in eighth at 2:11:57
American Ryan Hall finished in 20th place with a time of 2:17:50.
Watch: Meb Keflezighi's award ceremony
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