128th Boston Marathon shatters records, crowns new winners

Four winners and four very different journeys Monday from Hopkinton to the finish line in the 128th running of the Boston Marathon. For one, it was a story of Britain's first-ever Boston Marathon title. One doubled down with a back-to-back win, while another sought redemption and put the brakes on a would-be three-peat winner. Another champion shattered his own course record despite a heart-stopping crash midway through the race. Kenyan Hellen Obiri scored her second women’s division in a row, topping fellow Kenyan Sharon Lokedi, crossing the stripe with a time of 2:22:37. With just an 8-second margin of victory, the women's professional race was the closest in the event's top four divisions. "It was not easy because there were so many strong ladies," Obiri said of her third win in four marathons.She was joined by her young daughter, Tonya, after crossing the finish line. She called her mother’s win “awesome,” and said the best part was that her mother “did her best.”In the men's race, Ethiopia's Sisay Lemma took the professional men's running division with a time of 2:06:17. "I thank God that I was able to redeem myself from the failure of last year, and I won, so I am happy," Lemma said through an interpreter. "My plan was to break the course record, but it's so hilly up and down, and that took a lot, and it made me tired a little bit."Mohamed Esa finished second in the men's division, and Evans Chebet, who was looking to win his third in a row, finished third. Emma Bates, the top American finisher in last year's Boston Marathon, and fellow American Sara Hall were strong in the middle stages of the race, but had both fallen out of contention in the latter miles.For the seventh time, Switzerland’s Marcel Hug took home the Boston Marathon laurel in the men's wheelchair division.He crossed the line with a time of 1:15:32 — shattering the record of 1:17:06 he set last year. The record win comes despite Hug crashing into a barrier while negotiating a turn onto Commonwealth Avenue in Newton Hills, according to the B.A.A. A video shows Hug's wheelchair tipping onto its side, sending him into the barrier. He showed his bloodied knuckles and torn racing suit after he crossed the finish line. Video below: Incredible moments from the 128th Boston Marathon"It's about passion, and I love doing races, especially in Boston. It is always a great experience with all these crowds. They are just amazing. They gave so much energy," Hug said.Britain's Eden Rainbow-Cooper took the title in the women's wheelchair division, besting 2024 favorite Manuela Schar.It was a Boston sweep for Cooper, who also won Saturday's Boston 5k. Cooper's time on Monday was 1:35:11. "Last year, for Boston, it was my first Boston last year and it was a really, really tough race for me. So, I just wanted to come here and finish the race and just have fun. So, first place, I can't believe it," Cooper, who is the first Boston Marathon champion from Britain, said.Champions secure their place in this historic race, but also compete for a share of more than $1 million in prize money. By setting a course record, Hug will add a $50,000 bonus to his purse. Sights of 2024 Boston MarathonVideo: Repeat Marathon champ Obiri runs into her daughter's armsVideo: 'I wanted redemption' Marathon champ celebrates victoryVideo: Rainbow-Cooper makes history as first Boston winner from BritainVideo: Hug recovers after crash, sets another Boston Marathon record