In weather that was better suited for a swim meet than a marathon, Desi Linden did something no American woman has been able to do for the past 33 years.
Win the Boston Marathon.
Linden made a charge around the mile 21-mark yesterday breaking away from Kenya's Gladys Chesir and Mamitu Daska of Ethiopia and five-point-two windy, rainy miles later? She became the first American woman to win the race since 1985 with a time of 2:39:54.
"It's supposed to be hard," said Linden, who wiped the spray of rain from her eyes. "It's good to get it done."
Meanwhile, Japan’s Yuki Kawauchi won his first Boston Marathon in 2:15:54 becoming the first Japanese man to do so since Toshihiko Sekodid it in 1987.
But perhaps even more impressive than Linden’s finish was her start…as in, her gesture of good sportsmanship, when she slowed up and waited early in the race for Shalane Flanagan, the 2017 New York City Marathon champ, who darted into a Porta Potty and emerged a few seconds later. Linden helped Flanagan catch up to the lead pack.
Way to look out for number two.
What, take that any way you’d like.