Marathon stride-by-stride webcast7:00 p.m.: The finish -- Even though temperatures were in the 80s for most of the race -- one of the hottest Boston Marathons ever -- the BAA reports that 93 percent of officials runners finished the 26.2 miles. That's down a bit from the usual 95-97 percent, but still a testament to the athletes' preparation, fitness, and common sense. 2:43 p.m.: The finish -- Christopher Zieman of California was the top-finishing U.S. man, in 13th place. His time was 2:25:45. Second among US runners was Eric Post of Virginia, 17th in 2:29:13. Mary Ann Protz of Florida was the first US woman. She finished 15th in 2:57:58. Top US masters woman was Lee DiPietro, 46, of Maryland, who finished in 2:58:59, good for 16th place. 2:40 p.m.: Men -- Here are the top 10 men finishers: 1. Timothy Cherigat, 2:10:37; 2. Robert Cheboror, 2:11:49; 3. Martin Lel, 2:13:38; 4. Stephen Kiogora, 2:1434; 5. Hailu Negussie, 2:17:30; 6. Benjamin Kosgei Kimutai, 2:17:45; 7. Joseph Kipkemboi, 2:18:23; 8. Andrew Letherby, 2:19:31; 9. Fedor V. Ryzhov, 2:21:24; 10. Elly Rono, 2:22:45. 2:30 p.m.: Men -- The famed father-and-son team of Dick and Rick Hoyt, reported to have dropped out about the halfway point, have rejoined the race and are making their way along Heartbreak Hill. Dick, 63, missed last year's race while recovering from a heart attack. He has completed hundreds of road races, including 23 straight Boston Marathons, while pushing Rick, who has cerebral palsy, in a wheelchair. 2:23 p.m.: Men -- Martin Lel finished third in the men's race, completing a Kenyan sweep. Stephen Kiogora, also of Kenya, was fourth. 2:20 p.m.: Women -- Here are the top 10 women's finishers: 1. Catherine Ndereba, 2:24:27; 2. Elfenesh Alemu, 2:24:43; 3. Olivera Jevtic, 2:27:34; 4. Jelena Prokopcuka, 2:30:16; 5. Nuta Olaru, 2:30:44; 6. Lyubov Denisova, 2:31:17; 7. Malgorzata Sobanska, 2:32:23; 8. Victoria Klimina, 2:33:20; 9. Ramilia Burangulova, 2:34:08; 10. Ai Yamamoto, 2:34:32. 2:11 p.m.: Men -- Robert Cheboror of Kenya has finished second in 2:11:49. Rodgers Rop and defending champion Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot, who ran with the leaders for most of the race, dropped out at the 25-mile mark. 2:10 p.m.: Men -- Timothy Cherigat of Kenya has won the men's division of the Boston Marathon in 2:10:37. 2:07 p.m.: Men -- Timothy Cherigat will win the men's division. Robert Cheboror is in second, with a big lead over Martin Lel. 2:04 p.m.: Men -- Timothy Cherigat has a big lead in the men's race. He has entered Kenmore Square and is running strong, surrounded by police and media vehicles. 1:59 p.m.: Women -- Elfenesh Alemu has finished second in 2:24:43. Catherine Ndereba appears to be OK after getting fluids. The race is one of the hottest on record -- 84 degrees at the finish. It also ties the record for the closest women's race, at 16 seconds. Ndereba won the other 16-second race, too, defeating Irina Bogacheva in 2000. 1:56 p.m.: Women -- Catherine Ndereba of Kenya has won her third Boston Marathon in a time of 2:24:27. After finishing she collapsed, and is being attended to by the medical staff. 1:54 p.m.: Women -- Catherine Ndereba is moments away from winning her third Boston Marathon. She has turned onto Boylston Street. Elfenesh Alemu is nowhere to be seen. 1:51 p.m.: Women -- Catherine Ndereba is making her move in Kenmore Square. She is pulling away from Elfenesh Alemu. 1:48 p.m.: Women -- Catherine Ndereba has a one-step lead on Elfenesh Alemu as the lead women pass mile 25 and head to Kenmore Square. They now have a bit more than a mile into go. 1:45 p.m.: Men -- Timothy Cherigat has passed the crest of Heartbreak Hill. He looks strong, though the temperature on the course is 85 degrees. He passed 20 miles in 1:39:30. 1:42 p.m.: Women -- The Boston Marathon is now a two-woman race. Either Elfenesh Alemu or Catherine Ndereba will win, and they are neck and neck. They went through 35K in 1:59:52, cheered on by huge crowds of partying students at Boston College. 1:38 p.m.: Men -- Timothy Cherigat has made a move in the men's race as they near 20 miles. He has a 20-yard lead on Robert Cheboror. Both runners are from Kenya. 1:32 p.m.: Men -- Among the runners today is 64-year-old Andrew Kotulski of Montclair, N.J. Kotulski has finished more than 500 marathons in 35 coutries, including 27 Boston Marathons. He battles a life-threatening illness affecting his muscles and organs, including his heart, and has amazed his doctors by continuing to run. 1:29 p.m.: Men -- Three Kenyans, Rodgers Rop, Timothy Cherigat, and Martin Lel have pulled away from the pack as the men turned onto Commonwealth Avenue in Newton. Defending champion Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot has fallen back. 1:27 p.m.: Women -- Catherine Ndereba and Elfenesh Alemu have reached Heartbreak Hill. They continue to be neck and neck. 1:24 p.m.: Men -- The men have crossed Rte. 128 and are now in Newton, past the 16-mile mark. The pack of eight is down to seven. Benjamin Kimutai, last year's runner up, has fallen off the pace a bit. 1:18 p.m.: Women -- Catherine Ndereba and Elfenesh Alemu have just passed the Johnny Kelley statue near the 20-mile mark in Newton, heading to Heartbreak Hill. They are nearly a minute ahead of third place Olivera Jevtic, who is more than a minute ahead of fourth place Nuta Olaru. 1:14 p.m.: Men -- Rodgers Rop led a pack of 8 men past the halfway point in Wellesley Center in 1:05:30. The rest of the pack was: Martin Lel, Benjamin Kosgei Kimutai, Robert Cheboror, Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot, Timothy Cherigat, Stephen Kiogora, and Hailu Negussie. 1:12 p.m.: Wheelchairs -- Edith Hunkeler has finished second in the women's wheelchair race, in 1:41:13. Sandra Graf was third exactly a minute later. 1:08 p.m.: Men -- The men are nearing the halfway mark, having just passed the famous "Scream Tunnel" at Wellesley College. Rodgers Rop and Martin Lel lead a pack of six. 1:05 p.m.: Wheelchairs -- Smiling Cheri Blauwet, a med student at Stanford University in California, has won the women's wheelchair race in 1:39:53, four minutes off the course record. 1:03 p.m.: Women -- Catherine Ndereba has taken the lead in the women's race, with Elfenesh Alemu on her heels. They passed 16 miles in 1:27:50. 1:01 p.m.: Wheelchairs -- Cheri Blauwet is well on her way to winning the women's wheelchair race. She made her move in the Newton Hills, pulling away from the field. She has just passed the 25 mile mark and has nearly a half-mile lead. 12:57 p.m.: Women -- Catherine Ndereba of Kenya and Elfenesh Alemu of Ethiopia have pulled away from the women's pack. Ndereba looks good, and may be preparing to make a move in the upcoming Newton hills. They passed the 15 mile mark in 1:22:31. 12:50 p.m.: Men -- At the nine-mile mark defending champion Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot and 2002 winner Rodgers Rop are leading a men's pack of six passing through Natick Center. Cheruiyot picked up the pace, recording a 4:36 mile at one point, before backing off to run the next mile in 5:02. They went through 10 miles in 49:44. 12:48 p.m.: Wheelchairs -- Joel Jeannot finished second in the men's wheelchair in 1:21:08, also below the course record. Five-time winner Franz Nietlispach was third in 1:23:07. 12:45 p.m.: Wheelchairs -- Ernst Van Dyk of South Africa has smashed the men's wheelchair world record and the Boston Marathon course record, finishing in 1:18:27. This is his fourth straight win. Both records were held by Switzerland's Heinz Frei, who rolled to a 1:21:23 win in 1994. 12:44 p.m.: Wheelchairs -- Ernst Van Dyk is rolling to the finish line. He is on the verge of smashing the course record. 12:39 p.m.: Wheelchairs -- Ernst Van Dyk is maintaining his assault on the men's wheelchair record as he rolls into Boston. At 23 miles he was two minutes ahead of record pace. Cheri Blauwet has taken first place in the women's race as they pass Heartbreak Hill. 12:37 p.m.: Men -- The men's leaders, Stephen Kiogora and Jackson Kipng'ok are side-by-side. They have a five or six second lead on a pack of runners that is getting smaller and smaller by the mile. They went through 10K in 31:07, which is about 2:11:00 pace. 12:33 p.m.: Wheelchairs -- Ernst Van Dyk has more than a mile lead on the men's wheelchair field. He is still on record pace, and looks strong. Sandra Graf led the women's wheelchair race at 17 miles. 12:28 p.m.: Women -- Elfenesh Alemu continues to push the pace a little in the women's race, as they head through Natick Center. Catherine Ndereba continues to look strong in second. Olivera Jevtic has faded a bit to third. 12:24 p.m.: Men -- Jackson Kipng'ok of Kenya, one of the top masters (over 40) runners, is leading the men's race. He is at the front of a large pack that includes defending champion Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot. Their splits at 3 miles and 5K were 15:07 and 15:39 respectively. 12:20 p.m.: Women -- Elfenesh Alemu has opened up a 20-yard lead just after the 8-mile mark. Olivera Jevtic is in second. Catherine Ndereba is about 20 yards back in third. Alemu went through 8 miles in 44:51. 12:14 p.m.: Wheelchair Ernst Van Dyk, the defending champion, is leading the men's race and is two minutes below record pace as he attacks Heartbreak Hill. Edith Hunkeler has taken over first place in the women's race. 12:10 p.m.: Women -- Elfenesh Alemu and the rest of the women have picked up the pace. They are now running at about 2:29 pace. Their split at 10K was 35:15. 12:05 p.m.: Women -- Elfenesh Alemu continues to lead the women's race as they head into Framingham at the six-mile mark.Olivera Jevtic right behind her in second. 12:03 p.m.: In Hopkinton -- The famed father-and-son team of Dick and Rick Hoyt is back in the field this year after missing the race in 2003 because Dick, 63, suffered a heart attack. Dick has completed hundreds of road races, including 23 straight Boston Marathons, while pushing Rick, who has cerebral palsy, in a wheelchair. More about the Hoyts. Noon: In Hopkinton -- The main body of the Boston Marathon is now under way. The elite men are sprinting to pull ahead of the pack and stay clear of the mass of 20,000 runners behind them. It will be many minutes before the last runner crosses the start line. Noon: In Hopkinton -- The main body of the Boston Marathon is now under way. The elite men are sprinting to pull ahead of the pack and stay well clear of the mass of 20,000 runner behind them. It will be many minutes before the last runner crosses the start line. 11:54 a.m.: Women -- The lead women went through the 2 miles in 11:40, a slow 2:32:31 pace. Elfenesh Alemu is now leading the large pack. 11:52 a.m.: In Hopkinton -- The elite men are lined up on the starting line as the pre-race festivities continue. We've just had a flyover by Air Force jets and a Massachusetts state trooper has sung the national anthem. 11:49 a.m.: Women -- Malgorzata Sobanska of Poland has a one-step lead on the women's pack. But right with her are Elfenesh Alemu, Jelena Prokopcuka, Catherine Ndereba, and most of the other favorites. 11:46 a.m.: Women -- A tight pack of 15 elite women has passed the two-mile mark, including reigning world champion Catherine Ndereba. 11:45 a.m.: In Hopkinton -- The 20,000 runners who aren't elite women are now lining up by bib number in a series of corrals behind the starting line in Hopkinton -- a process called "staging." This year, half the field will line up on Hayden Rowe Street, the other half, including the elite men, on Main Street (Rte. 135). The Hayden Rowe runners merge into the Main Street runners a short distance from the start. 11:40 a.m.: Wheelchairs -- Defending champ Ernst Van Dyk of South Africa is leading the men's wheelchair race after 7 miles; Sandra Graf of Switzerland leads the women. 11:38 a.m.: In Hopkinton -- Every year the Boston Marathon field includes both celebrities and novelties, and 2004 is no exception. Among those running this year are David James Elliott, the 43-year-old star of the CBS show "JAG", Claudia Williams, the 32-year-old daughter of Ted Williams, and Lucky, the ageless mascot of the Boston Celtics. 11:35 a.m.: Women -- Jelena Prokopcuka of Latvia and Malgorzata Sobanska of Poland lead a large pack of women, who are off to a cautious start in this morning's heat. 11:31 a.m.: Women -- The women's race has begun. The runners are sprinting down the half-mile hill immediately after the start. The women's field is headed by current world champion "Catherine The Great" Ndereba of Kenya, who won in 2000 and 2001 and finished second in 2002. Also among the favorites: Elfenesh Alemu of Jelena Prokopcuka of Latvia, and a strong group of Russians. Defending champion Svetlana Zakharova is not in the field. 11:29 a.m.: In Hopkinton -- The temperature in Hopkinton is up to 83 degrees as the elite women prepare for their start. 11:29 a.m.: Women -- The elite women runners are on the starting line. For the first time the top-seeded women will have a separate, earlier start. The 30 or so world- and national-class women runners will begin their race at 11:31. The BAA hopes the separate start will make it easier for both participates and spectators to follow what is happening in the women's race. Joan Benoit Samuelson, two-time Boston champion and winner of the first women's Olympic marathon, will be the official starter. 11:25 a.m.: Wheelchairs -- The wheelchair racer are off, on their way to Copley Square in Boston. Because the race begins with a steep downhill, the BAA has been using what it calls a "controlled start" since 1988, the year after a chain-reaction crash dumped several athletes (including the eventual men's champ) from their chairs. The racers are paced for the first half mile, until the course levels out. 11:23 a.m.: Wheelchairs -- Defending men's champion Ernst Van Dyk of South Africa will be trying to win his fourth straight men's wheelchair crown, which would tie him for the consecutive win record with fellow competitor Franz Nietlispach. Frenchman Joel Jeannot and Nobukazu Hanaoka of Japan are also expected to be contenders. 11:22 a.m.: Wheelchairs -- The 53 wheelchair athletes are lined up at the start. The gun for their race goes off at 11:25, 20 minutes earlier than in past years. The wheelchair start time was moved back to accommodate a separate start introduced this year for "elite" women. 11:15 a.m.: In Hopkinton -- The Boston Marathon is an international event, drawing 2,937 foreign entries, or nearly 15 percent of the field of 20,328. Canada is the best represented nation after the US, with 1,608 entries. There are 174 Japanese, 172 Brits, 171 South Koreans, 137 Germans, and 116 Mexicans. Of the Koreans, 150 live Seoul alone, giving that city more entries than Cambridge, Mass. 11:13 a.m.: In Hopkinton -- Although running 26.2 miles is enormous punishment for the body, 97 percent or better of official starters have finished the race in recent years, a testiment to the quality of the Boston Marathon field and runners' increased sophistication about hydration, nutrition, and training. Today's hot weather may reduce that number somewhat. 11:10 a.m.: In Hopkinton -- Of the 20,404 official entries, 12,635 (62 percent) are men. There are 53 competitors in the wheelchair race. 11:00 a.m.: In Hopkinton -- It's hot in Hopkinton. Temperature at the start is 77 degrees, with winds from the southeast at 5 mph. According to the BAA there are 20,404 official runners, the second largest field in Boston history. Only the centennial race in 1996 was bigger. 1,988 numbers were not picked up. 10:53 a.m.: In Hopkinton -- At the Athletes' Village, located at Hopkinton High School, a half mile from the start, runners are warming up, relaxing and trying to kill time between now the the noon start of the main race.
|
|||||
 |
|||||
