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.
