Americans retake Boston

In a previous column I wrote that it won’t be long before the Americans break the Kenyans and Ethiopians domination of the Boston Marathon.  I was basing my prediction on the results last year’s race where six Americans landed in the top ten with Rio Olympics Marathon bronze medalist Gallen Rupp, placing second (Rupp did not finish this year’s edition.) In the women’s side, Jordan Hasay and Desiree Linden came in fourth and fifth, respectively with Lindsey  Flanagan (last year’s New York City Marathon champion) placing eleventh.  So when the smoke cleared in this year’s Boston Marathon, Linden finally ended the American drought that lasted for 33 years.  Lisa Larsen Weldenbach was the last American woman to win the race in 1985.  Linden, a two-time Olympian and runner-up in the 2011 edition clocked a slow two hours, 39 minutes and 54 seconds. Well, the reason for the slow clocking was the freezing weather in 30s with winds that gusted as high as 32mph.  The  road was likewise icy and slippery thus slowing down the runners.  Even dethroned champion Edna Kiplagat of Kenya, who won last year in 2:21:52 salvaged 9th  in 2:47:14.  So now we know for one that the Kenyans cannot run well in freezing temperatures.  For the first time, seven American women are in the top ten. Sarah Sellers  wound up second in 2:44: 04, Rachel Hyland fourth, in 2:44:29, Jessica Chichester fifth, in 2:45:23,  Nicole Dimercurio sixth, in 2:45:52, Shalane Flanagan, sixth in 2:46:31 and Kimi Reed eight, in2:46:47.  Canadian Krista Duchene placed third in 2:44:20 while Japanese Hiroko Yoshitomi clocked 2:48:29 for 10th place.  In the Men’s Division, defending champion Geoffrey Kirui of Kenya was upset by Japanese Yuki Kawauchi.Kawauchi clocked 2:15:58 to become the first Japanese to win the Boston title since 1987.  Kirui was second in 2:18:23 a far cry from his 2:09:37 mark last year.  The American male runners also showed that they are bent in breaking the African’s domination of the marathon.  The Americans had six runners in the top ten.  Shadrack Biwut 3rd, (2:18:35), 4th Tyler Pennel (2:18:57), 5th Andrew Bumbalough 2:19:52, 6th Scott Smith (2:21:47) 8th Elkanah Kibet (2:23:37) and 10th Daniel Vassalo (2:27:50). Abdi Nageeya (2:23:16) of the Netherlands and Canadian Reid CooIsket (2:25:02) were seventh and ninth placers.  The winning time of Kawauchi was the slowest since Jack Fultz overcame temperatures in the high 90s to win 1976.  Kawauchi a school administrator completed 12 marathons last year.

Rooting for Ateneo

In last Saturday’s  Final Four duel between the Ateneo Lady Eagles and the FEU Lady Tams, I found myself  rooting for Ateneo “Abi sa uban nagbalimbing na ako” since most people know I’m a diehard La Sallista.  The Lady Eagles lost to the Lady Tams who enjoyed atwice to beat advantage.  So why did I cheer for the Eagles? Well, I wanted Ateneo to win so it could face defending champion La Salle Lady Spikers who dispatched of the National University Lady  Bulldogs.  It’s always a pleasure beating Ateneo.

Did you know?

Michael Jordan paid his wife  Juanita a whooping $168 million as settlement after they filed for divorce in 2006.  Jordan met Juanita on a blind date and married her five years later.  The marriage lasted for 17 years.

Charles Darrow

The man who invented a game called Monopoly made millions. While James Naismith, the man who invented the game called basketball, that has made millions for a lot of people including Michael Jordan, died with his house mortgage.