Desiree Linden has won the Elite Women’s race at #BostonMarathon, the first American woman to win in 33 years! Unofficial time of 2:39:54! pic.twitter.com/zc5ICvAi9R
— Anaridis Rodriguez (@Anaridis) April 16, 2018
Fans of American running know how hard it’s been to be a Yank in the international running scene over the last few decades. Desiree Linden just made up for 30 years of heartbreak as she became the first woman to win the Boston Marathon since 1985 with an unofficial time of 2:39:54. “I love this city,” Linden told NBC. “I love this race, this course. It’s storybook, so I’m thrilled to be here and to get it done.”
Earlier in the race, the 34-year-old Linden, a two-time Olympian, took a break to wait for fellow American Shalane Flanagan who had dropped out to use a portable toilet. She wanted to return to the lead pack with her friend. “When you work together, you never know what’s going to happen. Helping her helped me and kind of got my legs back from there.”
