Lemi Berhanu Hayle and Atsede Baysa of Ethiopia Wins Boston Marathon

Lemi Berhanu Hayle and Atsede Baysa of Ethiopia Wins Boston Marathon

Lemi Berhanu Hayle of Ethiopia has won the Boston Marathon in an unofficial time of 2 hours, 12 minutes, 45 seconds.

The 21-year-old pulled away from defending champion Lelisa Desisa as they crossed the Mass Pike heading into Kenmore Square. He won by 47 seconds.

The victory completed Ethiopia’s first-ever sweep of the men’s and women’s races in Boston, as Atsede Baysa of Ethiopia won the women’s race.

The 29-year-old, two-time Chicago Marathon winner came from 37 seconds behind with less than five miles to go and passed fellow Ethiopian Tirfi Tsegaye with two miles left. Baysa finished in an unofficial time of 2 hours, 29 minutes, 19 seconds.

This was Hayle’s first major marathon victory. He has run four smaller marathons since 2014, winning three and finishing second in Dubai in January.

Desisa finished 47 seconds back, in second place, and Ethiopian Yemane Adhane Tsegay was third to complete a sweep of the podium.

~Time