The drought is over for American women in the Boston Marathon. Desiree “Desi” Linden, 34, became the first American woman to win the women’s race since Lisa Larsen Weidenback accomplished it in 1985 after pulling away from a competitive field and battling unusually cold, wet and windy conditions.
The win marked redemption for Linden, who performed within the elite field at Boston throughout her career and lost the 2011 Boston Marathon title just by six seconds. Linden, a two-time Olympian, came out on top Monday when she pulled from the chase pack and took charge from Ethiopian runner Mamitu Daska toward the end of the race. For that final five miles from the race, Linden expanded her lead and crossed the finish line, drenched from the rain and with not one other runners around the corner. Linden won the women’s race with an unofficial time 2:39.54 – a lot more than 10 minutes off the her personal record but a considerable effort amid Boston’s harsh climate conditions on Monday.
“It’s storybook,” Linden told NBC Sports of her win. “I’m thrilled to become here and obtain it done.”
“Even on the day like today where it’s pretty miserable out,” she added, “people show up plus they embrace the race.”
SHE DID IT! @des_linden???? has won #Boston2018??! She’s the first American woman to win the #BostonMarathon since 1985.
— Boston Marathon (@bostonmarathon) April 16, 2018
Linden’s victory answered months of speculation whether a U.S. woman could win due to a talented American field within this year’s race. Professional distance runners Shalane Flanagan, Molly Huddle and Sara Sellers, among several others, joined Linden within the women’s race, and Americans filled six of the top eight finishers. Flanagan, among the favorites among the Americans, arrived seventh with an unofficial duration of 2:46.31. In November 2017, Flanagan won the TCS Nyc Marathon – similarly becoming the very first American woman to do so since 1977.
Sportsmanship among the Americans was on full display during the race, particularly when Linden held back toward the beginning of the race to help Flanagan get caught up to the pack after stopping at a port-a-potty. Within an interview after the race, Linden said she wasn’t feeling well, considered dropping out mid-race and made a decision to instead try to help Flanagan, a Massachusetts native who was vying for a Boston title.
“When you’re employed together, you never know what’s going to happen,” Linden told NBC Sports. “Helping her solved the problem.”
Flanagan and Linden have represented the U.S. together in their careers, including at the Olympic marathon in 2012 and 2016.
History was also chose to make this year around the men’s side when Yuki Kawauchi had become the first Japanese man to win the race since Toshihiko Seko won in 1987.
Linden and Kawauchi’s new titles are available with a big payday. They will each receive $150,000 prize, supplied by John Hancock Financial, the biggest sponsor of the Boston Marathon. The top 15 winners around the women’s and men’s sides will even receive financial prizes, with second-place finishers winning $75,000 and third-place finishers winning $40,000 each.
