FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Ethiopians and Kenyans Lead the Way at 2013 B.A.A. Boston Marathon
Lelisa Desisa and Rita Jeptoo Take Top Honors
BOSTON, April 15, 2013-Under bright skies and in ideal weather, Lelisa
Desisa of Ethiopia and Rita Jeptoo of Kenya won the 2013 B.A.A. Boston
Marathon.
In a close men's finish, Desisa edged Kenya's Micah Kogo to win in 2:10:22.
Kogo, who was making his marathon debut, finished in 2:10:27, and Desisa's
countryman, Gebre Gebremariam, finished third-one second later-in 2:10:28.
Jeptoo won the women's race by a wide margin, finishing in 2:26:25, more
than a half-minute ahead of Ethiopia's Meseret Hailu, who ran 2:26:58. The
defending champion, Jeptoo's countrywoman Sharon Cherop, finished third
three seconds later in 2:27:01.
Jeptoo's victory raised her to the top of the women's 2012–2013 World
Marathon Majors leaderboard with 40 points-a five-point advantage over
Cherop. In third place with 30 points is their countrywoman Mary Keitany,
who is inactive this spring awaiting the birth of her second child. Four
women are tied for fourth with 25 points: Kenya's Priscah Jeptoo and
Ethiopians Atsede Baysa and 2012 Olympic champion Tiki Gelana, all of whom
will look to improve their WMM positions at the Virgin London Marathon on
Sunday, April 21, and Aberu Kebede, also of Ethiopia, who ran the 2013
Tokyo Marathon in February.
The men's 2012–2013 WMM leaderboard had no significant changes, with only
defending champion Wesley Korir of Kenya gaining one point for his fifth
place finish in today's race. Ethiopia's Tsegaye Kebede and Kenya's Wilson
Kipsang remain tied for first place with 35 points. Korir is in second
place with 27 points, and tied for third are Uganda's Stephen Kiprotich and
Kenya's Geoffrey Mutai with 25 points apiece. Kebede, Kipsang, Kiprotich,
and Mutai are all scheduled to compete in the Virgin London Marathon this
coming weekend.
2012–2013 WMM Series Leaderboards
Top 10 Men
1(t) Tsegaye Kebede (ETH) 35 pts. (competing in London)
1(t) Wilson Kipsang (KEN) 35 pts. (competing in London)
2 Wesley Korir (KEN) 27 pts. (competed in Boston)
3(t) Stephen Kiprotich (UGA) 25 pts. (competing in London)
3(t) Geoffrey Mutai (KEN) 25 pts. (competing in London)
4(t) Dennis Kimetto (KEN 15 pts. (competed in Tokyo)
4(t) Abel Kirui (KEN) 15 pts. (competing in London)
4(t) Martin Lel (KEN) 15 pts. (competing in London)
4(t) Feyisa Lilesa (ETH) 15 pts. (competing in London)
4(t) Levy Matebo (KEN) 15 pts. (competed in Boston)
Top 10 Women
1 Rita Jeptoo (KEN) 40 pts. (competed in Boston)
2 Sharon Cherop (KEN) 35 pts. (competed in Boston)
3 Mary Keitany (KEN) 30 pts. (inactive)
4(t) Atsede Baysa (ETH) 25 pts. (competing in London)
4(t) Tiki Gelana (ETH) 25 pts. (competing in London)
4(t) Priscah Jeptoo (KEN) 25 pts. (competing in London)
4(t) Aberu Kebede (ETH) 25 pts. (competed in Tokyo)
5 Tirfi Tsegaye (ETH) 16 pts. (competed in Boston)
6(t) Jemima Sumgong (KEN) 15 pts.
About World Marathon Majors
Established in 2006, World Marathon Majors (WMM) is a race series comprised
of the Tokyo, Boston, Virgin London, BMW Berlin, Bank of America Chicago,
and ING New York City Marathons. In the years in which they are run, WMM
also includes the IAAF World Championships and Olympic marathons. At the
conclusion of a two-year cycle, WMM offers a $1 million prize purse to be
split equally between the top male and female marathoners in the world. The
inaugural 2006–2007 series was launched at the 110th Boston Marathon on
April 17, 2006, and concluded at the ING New York City Marathon on November
4, 2007. The 2013 – 2014 series begins with the Tokyo Marathon on February
24, 2013, and will conclude at the ING New York City Marathon on November
2, 2014.
For additional information on the World Marathon Majors, please visit
worldmarathonmajors.com
###
|
