Hug earns 7th Boston Marathon wheelchair title and Rainbow-Cooper wins her 1st women's crown
Marcel Hug of Switzerland, left, men's wheelchair division winner and Eden Rainbow Cooper, women's wheelchair division winner, pose with the trophy at the Boston Marathon finish line, Monday, April 15, 2024, in Boston. Credit: AP/Charles Krupa
BOSTON — Marcel Hug of Switzerland overcame a crash and captured his seventh men’s wheelchair Boston Marathon title, setting in a new course record Monday of 1 hour, 15 minutes, 33 seconds.
It bests his previous course mark of 1:17:06 set last year and was just seven seconds from setting a new world record. It continues his streak of 11 consecutive major marathon titles.
American Daniel Romanchuk was second in 1:20:37, followed by Britain’s David of Weir in 1:22:12. The 38-year-old Hug took advantage of temperatures in the mid-50s at the start of the race and was more than 30 seconds ahead of his fellow competitors by the halfway mark.
In the women’s race, Britain’s Eden Rainbow-Cooper won her first Boston crown, crossing in 1:35:11. She was followed by Switzerland’s Manuela Schar in 1:36.41 and Australia's Madison de Rozario 1:39.20.
It was Rainbow-Cooper's first major win. The 22-year-old was seventh in Boston a year ago. Her previous top finishes in a major was second in Toyko this year and second in Berlin in 2023.
Hug was cruising until he crashed while making the turn at the start of the Newton Hills section of the course, skidding and hitting a barrier at about the 18-mile mark. But he quickly recovered and maintained a nearly four-minute lead over the field.
Hug and Rainbow-Cooper received $40,000 for the win and a bonus of $50,000 for setting the record.
Marcel Hug of Switzerland breaks the tape to win the men's wheelchair division at the Boston Marathon, Monday, April 15, 2024, in Boston. Credit: AP/Charles Krupa
The Paris Paralympic marathon favorite, Hug will represent Switzerland in France this summer.
