Buzunesh Deba (L) and Mare Dibaba (C), finished second and third, respectively, in the women’s division. Shalane Flanagan (R), who grew up in Massachusetts, came in sixth place and was the top American finisher in the women’s division (Claire Felter/ BU News Service).
By Claire Felter
BU News Serivice
Following the race, the top finishing athletes made their way to the Fairmont Copley Plaza hotel for a post-race press conference. While Kenyan runner Rita Jeptoo defended her title as women’s champion for the second year in a row, attention at the press conference was focused on American Shalane Flanagan, who finished in sixth place.
When asked about the difficulties of the course, Flanagan responded: “I don’t wish it were easier, I just wish I was better.”
Several reporters brought up the possibility that Flanagan’s heightened pace at the start of the race helped Jeptoo to finish the marathon at a record time of 2:18:57. Jeptoo said that she had not initially planned for that kind of speed.
“The pace today was very, very high. I’m not thinking I expected to run like that today, but she [Shalane] was tough,” Jeptoo said.