By Sammie Hill–
Braving the 80 degree heat, University of Louisville alumni Wesley Korir emerged as the winner of the 116th Boston Marathon. Of 22,426 participants, Korir finished first with a time of 2 hours, 12 minutes, 40 seconds.
“To me, running the Boston Marathon is an Olympic event,” Korir said. “I don’t care what comes up after this, but I’m really happy to win Boston.”
The 29-year-old utilized his sprinting ability to push through the final leg of the race and capture the lead. Levy Matebo finished second while Bernard Kipyego secured third place.
Last year’s winner, Geoffrey Mutai, ran among the leaders before experiencing stomach pains that forced him to drop out at mile 18.
“I don’t know what happened,’’ said Mutai. “After some fuel, my stomach was sick and I started struggling. My stomach was getting tight. I did not know that I would drop out. But I am happy.’’
Mutai’s departure served as an opportunity for Korir to gain the advantage.
“I was taking it one step at a time and trying not to do too much,’’ said Korir. “But I did think that it could come down to the wire, and I was confident that if it came down to the wire, I could win.’’
Korir’s victory reflects positively on the University of Louisville, where he ran for the cross-country team and earned All-American honors as a member of the track and field team. The ability of U of L to mold such a successful runner demonstrates the strength and effectiveness of these programs.
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Photo/Flickr: BU Interactive News
