LIVE at the Boston Marathon: 22-yr old Dire Tune Wins Closest Boston Marathon in History
Posted April 21st, 2008 at 12:00 PM by Adam Jacobs
Section: News & Results, Marathons, Special Features, Live Race Coverage
In the closest race in the 112 year history of the Boston Marathon, 22-yr old Dire Tune of Ethiopia defeated Russia’s 25-yr old stallion Alevtina Bikitimrova. Tune crossed the line in 2:25:21 and became the youngest Boston champion since 21-yr old American Joan Benoit Samuelson won the race in 1979.
Tune and Biktimirova traded the lead in dramatic fashion throughout the final 800m with each matching then other’s surge just when you thought they were done. Tune ultimately proved to be too strong as she took off with 100m to go, finished 2 seconds ahead of Biktimrova, and collapsed after breaking the tape.
Rita Jeptoo, the 2007 Boston Marathon Champion, finished third in a time of 2:26:34, over a minute behind Biktimirova. Latvia’s Jelena Prokopcuka came in fourth in 2:28:12 while Ethiopia’s Askale Tafa Magarsa rounded out the top five in 2:29:48. Defending champion Lidiya Grigoryeva was part of the lead pack for the first half of the race but eventually faded to finish ninth in 2:35:37. Top American honors went to Ashley Anklam who ran 2:48:43 to finish an impressive 15th in a race where many top Americans were absent due to yesterday’s Olympic Marathon Trials.
Top Female Finishers:
1. Dire Tune ETH 2:25:25
2. Alevtina Biktimirova RUS 2:25:27
3. Rita Jeptoo KEN 2:26:34
4. Jelena Prokopcuka LAT 2:28:12.
5. Askale Tafa Magarsa ETH 2:29:48
For more news, analysis, interviews, videos, and results from the 2008 Boston Marathon and USA Olympic Women’s Marathon Trials, please visit:
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Tags: 2008 boston marathon, Alevtina Biktimirova, Askale Tafa Magarsa, b.a.a., BAA, boston athletic association, boston marathon, boston2008, boston2008news, Bruna Genovese, Dire Tune, Jelena Prokopcuka, Lidiya Grigoryeva, live race coverage, Magdaline Chemjor, Nuta Olaru, Rita Jeptoo, Robe Tola Guta
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The Final Sprint