Press Release

Ethiopians and Kenyans Lead the Way at 2013 B.A.A. Boston Marathon

16 Apr, 2013 (Tue)

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

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