2014 Boston Marathon
2014 Boston Marathon | |
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Venue | Boston, Massachusetts |
Dates | April 21 |
The 2014 Boston Marathon took place in Boston, Massachusetts, on Monday, April 21 (Patriots' Day). It was the 118th edition of the mass-participation marathon. The race is organized by the Boston Athletic Association. Due to the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings, extra security measures were implemented. The 2014 Marathon had about 36,000 registered participants, second only to the 1996 race in number of entries.[2] The Boston Globe reported that over a million people were expected to line the marathon route to watch the race, twice the number who attend during a typical year.[3]
Meb Keflezighi, a three-time olympian who ran at UCLA, won the men's race in 2:08:37 and became the first American male runner to win the Boston Marathon since 1983. Kenya's Rita Jeptoo crossed the finish line first at the women's division at 2:18:57, but following an out-of-competition drug test in September 2014, is now facing disqualification over EPO detected in the said drug test.[4] Ethiopian runner Bizunesh Deba finished the race second, 2:19:59[5]
Race description
The course runs through 26 miles 385 yards (42.195 km) of roads, mostly following Route 135, Route 16, Route 30, and city streets into the center of Boston, where the official finish line is located on Boylston Street in Copley Square alongside the Boston Public Library. The race runs through Hopkinton, Ashland, Framingham, Natick, Wellesley, Newton, Brookline, and Boston.[6] The marathon had about 36,000 entries. Increased participation after the 2013 marathon bombing required that an additional 9,000 participant spots be opened up, and the qualifying time lowered by 1 minute 38 seconds.[7] The only Boston Marathon with more entries was the 1996 marathon, with 38,708 runners.[8][9]
The race was held on April 21, 2014. At the start, a moment of silence was held in memory of the 2013 bombings. The men and women's wheelchair group began their race at 8:50 am. The race started for the elite women at 9:32, while the elite men started half an hour later.[10] Another moment of silence was announced (at least for television viewers) at 2:49 pm, in memory of the 2013 bombings, commemorating the exact minute when the 2013 bombings had occurred.
Rita Jeptoo (33) of Kenya crossed the finish line with a time of 2:18:57, winning the women's competition and setting a new course record. However, following an out-of-competition doping test in September 2014, and an announcement by the World Marathon Majors on October 31, 2014, her participation is in legal dispute because of IAAF and World Marathon Majors' decisions. Bizunesh Deba (26) of Ethiopia crossed the finish line in 2:19:59, finishing second. If Jeptoo is disqualified, Deba's time would be a new course record. The men's competition was won by Meb Keflezighi (38) of the United States with a time of 2:08:37, marking the first time the race had been won by an American male runner in over 30 years.[11] Following Jeptoo's disqualification, Athletics Kenya handed her a two-year ban from sports for the anti-doping rule violation.[12][13][14]
Security
After the bombings that took place during the 2013 Boston Marathon, killing three and injuring over 260, police vowed to install additional security measures—including bag checks and additional barriers—while maintaining a friendly, happy atmosphere.[8] Police banned backpacks, strollers, suitcases, glass containers, some costumes and props, weight vests, and items larger than 5 by 5 inches (13 cm × 13 cm).[15] More than 3,500 uniformed Boston Police officers were present for security.[16]
Results
Results are from the Boston Athletic Association.[17]
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Wheelchair
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Ernst F. Van Dyk near halfway point in Wellesley |
Tatyana McFadden near halfway point in Wellesley |
References
- ^ "Official Boston Marathon Course Map". Retrieved March 23, 2014.
- ^ BAA Spectator Information for Boston Marathon
- ^ Kennedy, Patrick (23 March 2014). "Through history, the Boston Marathon as a race against fear". Boston Globe. Retrieved 14 April 2014.
- ^ Fox Sports. "Boston marathon winner Rita Jeptoo tests positive for doping". FOX Sports. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
- ^ Keflezighi wins Boston Marathon, first U.S. victor in three decades, Reuter via Yahoo! News, April 21, 2014
- ^ "Boston Marathon Course map". Boston Athletic Association. Retrieved February 21, 2014.
- ^ Bernstein, Lenny (October 8, 2013). "Boston Marathon lowers qualifying times, but runners who just miss the cut take it in stride". The Washington Post. Retrieved April 21, 2014.
- ^ a b "As Marathon nears, towns and cities prepare for record turnout". Boston.com. The Boston Globe. February 9, 2014. Retrieved February 21, 2013.
- ^ "History of the Boston Marathon". Arcadia Publishing online. Retrieved March 2, 2014.
- ^ "Boston Marathon begins under tight security 1 year after bombing". CBC News (AP). April 21, 2014. Retrieved April 21, 2014.
- ^ Fantz, Ashley (April 21, 2014). "A year later, Boston Marathon runners race again". Retrieved April 21, 2014.
- ^ Kevin Kaduk: Marathon champ Rita Jeptoo receives two-year ban for positive drug test, 30 January 2015
- ^ "Athletes currently suspended from all competitions in athletics following an Anti-Doping Rule Violation as at: 06.03.15". iaaf.org. IAAF. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
- ^ "IAAF News Issue 160, 24 February 2015". iaaf.org. IAAF. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
- ^ "Backpacks among prohibited items from 2014 Boston Marathon". wcvb.com. WCVB-TV. February 26, 2014. Retrieved February 27, 2014.
- ^ Berman, Mark (April 21, 2014). "Boston Marathon 2014: American man wins for first time since 1983 (Live updates)". The Washington Post. Retrieved April 21, 2014.
- ^ "2014 BOSTON MARATHON TOP FINISHERS". Boston Athletic Association. April 21, 2014. Retrieved April 21, 2015.