Kosgei edges foes in closest Boston finish

BOSTON – Kenya’s Salina Kosgei outkicked Kara Goucher and defending champion Dire Tune in the last mile of the Boston Marathon on Monday, going back and forth with Tune in the final blocks of Boylston Street to win the closest women’s finish in event history.

Ethiopia’s Deriba Merga overcame his fade in the Olympic marathon at Beijing to win the men’s race, with Ryan Hall picking up another third place for US runners – their best showing in more than 20 years.

Merga had pulled away by the bottom of Heartbreak Hill, winning in 2 hours, 8 minutes, 42 seconds – 50 seconds ahead of second-place finisher Daniel Rono of Kenya, with Hall another 8 seconds back.

Goucher led the three women as they crossed above the MassPike into Kenmore Square with 1 mile to go, but the two Africans began to pull away from her as they dueled. One year after Tune outkicked Alevtina Biktimirova to win by 2 seconds in what was then the closest women’s finish ever, the Ethiopian traded places with Kosgei several times on the last long stretch to the tape.     (AP)