Athletes Lemi Berhanu Hayle and Atsede Baysa have raised the bar in Ethiopian athletics once again, when both runners took home the men’s and women’s titles respectively at the Boston Marathon in a historic win earlier today.
The world’s oldest annual marathon saw Lemi Berhanu Hayle emerge first with an unofficial time of 2:12:45 in the men’s race.
Meanwhile, Atsede Baysa struggled to finish atop the women’s front line with a time of 2:29:19, only 37 seconds behind Tirfi Tsegaye also from Ethiopia and Joyce Chepkirui from Kenya, just about 21 miles into the race.
Atsede Baysa seen pressing through to the finish line (photo: cnn.com)
A jubilant Atsede Baysa screamed in celebration and uttered some words to a translator:
I’m very happy” and “very lucky…to win Boston is not easy.”
On the men’s side Lemi Berhanu Hayle expressed how difficult the race has been considering the fierce challenge from other contenders.
I did good training but the race is too tough…very difficult race, he stated.
Lemi Berhanu Hayle finishing on a jubilant mode (photo:cnn.com)
The fiercely contested race also saw Tirfi Tsegaye of Ethiopia come in second place with a time of 2:30:03, while Kenyan Joyce Chepkirui finished third with a time of (2:30:50). Indeed, a day to remember, Ethiopians have taken to social media to congratulate and celebrate their heroes:
