Korir wins overheated Boston Marathon
Wesley Korir, left, and Sharon Cherop, both of Kenya, kiss the winner's trophy after winning the men's and women's divisions of the 116th Boston Marathon. (April 16, 2012) Credit: AP
BOSTON -- Trailing the leaders by 200 yards when the Boston Marathon slogged through Heartbreak Hill, Wesley Korir passed them one by one until he took the lead on his way out of Kenmore Square. That's when leg cramps forced him to slow down and relinquish the lead.
"It's hot out there, in case you didn't know," he told reporters after enduring temperatures that rose into the 80s to win the 116th Boston Marathon Monday.
The native Kenyan -- a permanent resident of the United States -- retook the lead from Levy Matebo in the final mile to win in a heat-slowed time of 2 hours, 12 minutes, 40 seconds.
It was almost 10 minutes behind the world best established here a year ago by Geoffrey Mutai and the second-slowest Boston victory since 1985.
Sharon Cherop won the women's race to complete the Kenyan sweep, outkicking Jemima Jelagat Sumgong to win by 2 seconds in 2:31:50. The women's winner was decided by a sprint down Boylston Street for the fifth consecutive race -- all of them decided by 3 seconds or less. -- AP
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