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SPORTS ZONE 1: Boston Marathon Results

On Monday April 18, 2005, the 109th Boston Marathon took place. Over 18,000 runners showed up at the start, but only 17,549 finished the race. It is the longest running yearly marathon race in the world.

Catherine Ndereba of Kenya, also known as “Catherine the Great," won her fourth Boston Marathon (women’s division). This makes her the first woman to win four marathons since women began competing in 1972. She took home a prize of $100,000. Ndereba came from behind to win. She passed Ethiopia’s Elfenesh Alemu during the 20th mile of the 26.2 mile race. In fact, she was over a minute behind Alemu halfway into the marathon.

Hailu Negussie of Ethiopia won his first Boston Marathon in the men’s race. He holds course records in two other marathons. He became the first Ethiopian to win the Boston Marathon since Abebe Mekonnen won in 1989. Runners from Kenya traditionally dominate the long distance races. They have won 14 of the last 17 Boston Marathons in the men’s division.

Ernst Van Dyk of South Africa became the first man to win five consecutive Boston Marathons in the wheelchair division. His nearest competitor finished over six minutes after him. American Cheri Blauwet won the race in the women’s wheelchair division.

--Written by Sarah Kurachek

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Read SPORTS ZONE 2: World’s Oldest Olympic Medalist Dies