Worknesh Degefa Dominates Women's Field To Win First Boston Marathon
BOSTON (CBS) - Worknesh Degefa of Ethiopia ran most of the race by herself Monday dominating the women's field to win her first Boston marathon.
Degefa, 28, pulled into the lead during mile four and never looked back, at one point opening up a three minute lead on the elite pack.
She finished in 2 hours, 23 minutes and 31 seconds.
2017 Boston Marathon champion Edna Kiplagat of Kenya was 42 seconds behind in second place.
Jordan Hasay was the top American, finishing third in 2:25:20.
Women's Elite Race #Boston2019 results:
— Boston Marathon (@bostonmarathon) April 15, 2019
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????@KiplagatEdna???????? (02:24:13)
????Jordan Hasay???????? (02:25:20)
????Meskerem Assefa???????? (02:25:40)
????@des_linden???????? (02:27:00)
Defending champion Des Linden finished fifth with an unofficial finish of 2:27:00.
"I'm happy that I won, plus I ran by myself so I feel double winning," Degefa told WBZ-TV. "I have run so many races. This is the biggest I've seen, big crowd. So I felt I ran with all the crowd."
So was she ever concerned with such a big lead, even as Kiplagat attempted to close in?
"I worried a little bit, but I knew after I finished 25k I had to push. I still worried, but when I turned around there was no one behind me," Degefa said.
Watch WBZ-TV's Steve Burton talks to Degefa