The Inspiring Men's and Women's Winners of the Boston Marathon

The classic running rivalry between Ethiopia and Kenya played out as Mare Dibaba (ETH) and Caroline Rotich (KEN) made for a nail-biting sprint to the finish. In the end, Rotich won out with a time of 2:24:55. Rotich had previously finished fourth in the 2011 Boston Marathon. Of her win today, Rotich said, "I have been waiting for this — training and training. When we turned that last corner, I told myself that I can do this."

Mare Dibaba (ETH) finished second with a time of 2:24:59, and Buzunesh Deba (ETH) finished third with a time of 2:25:09.

Of the American women, Desiree Linden led the elite pack for a good majority of the race, falling behind shortly before entering the city. She ended with a fourth-place finish of 2:25:39. Shalane Flanagan finished ninth.

In an rare feat, Lelisa Desisa won his second Boston Marathon title with a time of 2:09:17. Breaking ahead during the last stretch of the race, Desisa smiled as he ran down Boylston, waving to the crowd before crossing the finish line. This win is especially touching for Desisa, since his first title happened during the year of the bombings. At that time, Desisa chose to donate his winning medal to the city in remembrance of the bombing victims.

Yemane Adhane Tsegay (ETH) finished second with a time of 2:09:48, and Wilson Chebet (KEN) finished third with a time of 2:10:22.

Of the elite American men, last year's winner, Meb Keflezighi, proves he's still every bit the inspiration that so many have come to love. While Meb crossed the finish line for his eighth-place finish (2:12:42), he grabbed onto the hand of a female runner who was also finishing at that same time. Dathan Ritzenhein, also from the US, finished shortly before Meb for a seventh-place finish.