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New York - Desiree Linden became the first American woman since 1985 to win the Boston Marathon while Japan's Yuki Kawauchi captured his fourth men's marathon victory of the year on Monday.
Both champions endured the coldest start in 30 years as well as gusting winds and steady rain in taking landmark triumphs in the 122nd edition of the famed 42.2km showdown over city streets.
Kawauchi overtook defending champion Geoffrey Kirui of Kenya over the final 2km in heavy rain to win in 2:15:58 with runner-up Kirui in 2:18:23 and American Shadrack Biwott third in 2:18:35.
"This is the greatest day of my life," a tearful Kawauchi said through a translator. "This is Boston. This is the greatest race in the world."
Kawauchi won his fifth consecutive marathon after last year's Hofu Marathon in Japan, a New Year's Day marathon at Marshfield, Massachusetts, Japan's Kitakyushu Marathon and Taiwan's Wanjinshi Marathon.
Linden overtook Ethiopia's Mamitu Daska and Kenya's Gladys Chesir at Heartbreak Hill after the 20-mile mark and kept the lead from there to win in 2:39:54. American Sarah Sellers was a distant second in 2:44:04 with Canada's Krista Duchene third, another 16 seconds adrift.
No US woman had won the Boston crown since Lisa Larsen Weidenbach 33 years ago, but Linden did it after making six of her 16 marathon starts in beloved Boston.
"I love this city, this race, this course. It's storybook. I'm thrilled to be here and to get it done," Linden said.
"This is a race the entire city cares about. Even on a day like today when it's pretty miserable, the people show up and embrace the race."
Linden lost by only two seconds in 2011 and was fourth in 2015 and 2017.
Linden said she felt early on as if she would not be able to finish the race, but slowed early to help compatriot Shalane Flanagan recover after a toilet stop and found herself boosted by working to help the reigning New York Marathon champion, who placed seventh.
"At mile 2-3-4 I didn't even feel like I could make it to the finish line," Linden said. "Helping her helped me and I got my legs back from there."
The race marked five years since the Boston Marathon bombing tragedy in which two explosions near the finish line killed three people and wounded more than 260.
Elite competitors began in rain coverings and at a slow pace in the coldest start since 1988 at 38 degrees (3.3 Celsius) with rain often blowing into runners' faces.
Weather conditions were so bad the Boston Red Sox, who usually play a Major League Baseball home game on race day, postponed their Fenway Park contest for the first time since 1984.
Kirui, who set the halfway pace at 1:05:59, failed in his bid to become the first back-to-back Boston men's winner since compatriot Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot in 2006-2008.
Kirui removed his gloves after 85 minutes then pulled away from the lead pack over a 400-meter span only to falter just ahead of the finish.
Daska surged from the halfway mark but Linden and Chesir, in only her second marathon, maintained pursuit.
Linden, 34, surged past them both just after the 21-mile mark and pulled away for the win.
Top finishers from Monday's Boston Marathon:
Men
1. Yuki Kawauchi (JPN) 2:15:58, 2. Geoffrey Kirui (KEN) 2:18:23, 3. Shadrack Biwott (USA) 2:18:35, 4. Tyler Pennel (USA) 2:18:57, 5. Andrew Bumbalough (USA) 2:19:52, 6. Scott Smith (USA) 2:21:47, 7. Abdi Nageeye (NED) 2:23:16, 8. Elkanah Kibet (USA) 2:23:37, 9. Reid Coolsaet (CAN) 2:23:37, 10. Daniel Vassallo (USA) 2:27:50
Women
1. Desiree Linden (USA) 2:39:54, 2. Sarah Sellers (USA) 2:44:04, 3. Krista Duchene (CAN) 2:44:20, 4. Rachel Hyland (USA) 2:44:29, 5. Jessica Chichester (USA) 2:45:23, 6. Nicole Dimercurio (USA) 2:45:52, 7. Shalane Flanagan (USA) 2:46:31, 8. Kimi Reed (USA) 2:46:47, 9. Edna Kiplagat (KEN) 2:47:14, 10. Hiroko Yoshitomi (JPN) 2:48:29
