Kenya's Ibrahim Hussein, running smoothly and confidently from the outset, convincingly won his third Boston Marathon and second in a row today, breaking open the race in the toughest part of the course.
While Hussein was winning easily, so was Russia's Olga Markova in the women's division. Markova was timed unofficially in 2:23:43, the seventh-fastest ever for a woman and the second-fastest ever at Boston, in upsettting defending champion Wanda Panfil of Poland.Markova was the first Russian winner - man or woman - in the Boston Marathon.
The strong-willed Hussein, who ran the final five miles alone after taking command coming off Heartbreak Hill, never wavered as he finished the testing 26-mile, 385-yard course in an unofficial 2 hours, 8 minutes, 14 seconds, the second-fastest Boston ever.
Hussein had wanted a fast time after winning last year in a relatively slow 2:11:06, and he got it. Only the 2:07:51 by Australia's Rob de Castella in 1986 is faster than Hussein's time at Boston.
Hussein won his first Boston Marathon - and became the first African winner - in 1988, beating Juma Ikangaa of Tanzania by one second in the closest finish in the race's 96-year history.
Only five others have won the race at least three times. Clarence DeMar leads with seven victories, followed by Bill Rodgers with four. The others with three each are Leslie Pawson, Gerard Cote of Canada and Eino Oksanen of Finland.
Hussein also became the first repeat men's champion since Geoff Smith of England won in 1984-85.
The thin, frail Markova, 23, earned $60,000, the biggest payday of her career. She bided her time smartly before passing the tiring Panfil, who had led from the beginning, shortly past 18 miles.
The men's and women's defending champions kept their titles in the wheelchair division of the Boston Marathon today, both setting course and world bests.
Jim Knaub, 36, of Long Beach, Calif., won with a time of 1 hour, 26 minutes, 28 seconds. Jean Driscoll, 25, of Champaign, Ill., won with a time of 1:36:52.