Desi Linden became the first U.S. female runner to win the Boston Marathon since 1985, enduring the downpour, headwind and cold for the biggest victory of her career.
Linden, a two-time Olympian, clocked 2:39:54 (slowest winning time since 1978) and captured the world’s oldest annual marathon by 4:10 over unknown American Sarah Sellers.
“Honestly, at mile 2, 3, 4, I didn’t feel like I was even making it to the finish line,” Linden said on NBCSN.
Linden pulled away from Ethiopian Mamitu Daska and Kenyan Gladys Chesir in the 22nd mile, wearing a black and lime green jacket for all 26.