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Boston Marathon 2019 - As It Happens

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The 123rd Running of the Boston Marathon (2019) - As It Happens

Refresh this page every few minutes to see the latest updates. We'll have all of the updates for all races on this one page - trying to make it as easy as possible for our readers to see what's happening.

Note, as you read these reports, they will appear in reverse chronological order. Newest updates will be at the top of each section.

The Coverage (below): Men's Race | Women's Race

Overview

For the 19th year, we are on site at the Boston Marathon - in the heart of the action. To cover a race well, you need to be there. This morning, we felt the torrential rains as we made our way to the press room. But as the race time approached, the rain has moderated to a small trickle. After 2018's horrible conditions and the early forecasts for 2019, everyone feared the worst. Instead, current forecasts show light rain (or rain ending), race temperatures starting at 54 degrees and ending at 66 degrees. Best of all, it seems that there will be a tailwind for much of the race...

Men's Race back to top

The Finish (2:07:59) Turning left on Boylston Street, Lelisa Desisa begins his sprint first but, in a photo finish, loses to Lawrence Cherono who wins in 2:07:59. Lelisa Desisa settles for runner-up in 2:08:00. Kenneth Kipkemoi takes third in 2:08:06.

Mile 25 (2:02:30). The three men are well ahead of all others and running side by side.

Mile 23 (1:48:41), Mile 23 (1:53:19), Mile 24 (1:57:51). The men's run is now a race of three men - they will be first, second and third although we don't know in what order: Lelisa Desisa, Kenneth Kipkemoi and Lawrence Cherono.

Mile 21 (1:43:44), Mile 22 (1:48:31). Seven men together, Scott Fauble has fallen just behind.

Mile 19 (1:33:40), Mile 20 (1:38:37). Eleven men are still running together: Hayle, Lemi Berhanu (ETH), Desisa, Lelisa (ETH), Fauble, Scott (USA), Cherono, Lawrence (KEN), Rono, Philemon (KEN), Kipkemoi, Kenneth (KEN), Kandie, Felix (KEN), Talam, Festus (KEN), Deksisa, Solomon (ETH), Kipruto, Benson (KEN).

Mile 18 1:28:50), 30K (1:31:59). Fourteen men remain in the lead group. Americans Elkanah Kibet, Dathan Ritzenhein and Shadrack Biwott have fallen behind. Americans still in the mix include Scott Fauble and Jared Ward.

Mile 17 (1:23:48). Three men have rejoined the pace that now has 18 men. The men are reaching the Newton Hills and still on pace for a 2:09ish finish time.

Mile 14 (1:08:43), Mile 15 (1:13:43), 25K (1:16:23), Mile 16 (1:18:39). Fifteen men remain in the lead pack. Jared Ward and Scott Fauble are setting the pace.

Mile 13 (1:03:56), Halfway (1:04:28). Twenty-two men continue to run toward a 2:09 finish. Included in the lead pack are 7 American men.

Mile 12 (59:04), 20K (1:01:14). 22 men remain in the lead pack, including 6 Americans.

Mile 10 (49:11), Mile 11 (54:14). Jared Ward has run forward of the pace by about four seconds. The main pack does not seem concerned. The pace has slowed slightly.

Mile 9 (44:08), 15K (45:45). 26 men remain togehter in a pack. The pace has slowed a bit, but is still on track for a 2:08-2:09 finish. Still too fast for many of these men.

Mile 7 (34:02), Mile 8 (38:57). Kibet had gained some seconds on the field, but the field has reeled him back in.

Mile 6 (29:19), 10K (30:21). 28 men reamin in the lead pack, with Elkanah Kibet at the front and setting the pace. The 28 men are still running toward a 2:08 finis, but of the field, only 16 have ever run sub 2:08 before. Hmmm....

Mile 4 (19:30), Mile 5 (24:30). Elkanah Kibet, Lawrence Cherono and Geoffrey Kirui are running at the front, but there is a large pack behind and with them. The men are still on pace for a 2:08 finish. Is the tailwind stronger than we think or are many of these men running faster than they can?

Mile 3 (14:39), 5K (15:10). About 34 men are inthe lead pack, running faster than most can really run. The men are on pace for a 2:08ish finish time. The initial downhill miles are luring many runners into running too fast. In the lead pack: Eggleston, Jeffrey (USA), Desisa, Lelisa (ETH), Mesfun Teklebrhan, Daniel (ERI), Cherono, Lawrence (KEN), Kirui, Geoffrey (KEN), Inoue, Hiroto (JPN), Maiyo, Augustus (USA), Kibet, Elkanah (USA), Fauble, Scott (USA), Korir, Wesley (KEN), Kawauchi, Yuki (JPN), Sonoda, Hayato (JPN), El Aaraby, Mohamed Reda (MAR), Rono, Philemon (KEN), Tadese, Zersenay (ERI), Ward, Jared (USA), Kipruto, Benson (KEN), Ritzenhein, Dathan (USA), Talam, Festus (KEN), Hayle, Lemi Berhanu (ETH), Kizu, Masao (JPN), Biwott, Shadrack (USA), Kipkemoi, Kenneth (KEN), Kipyego, Christopher (KEN), Gregg, Brendan (USA), Overall, Scott (GBR), Kasaye, Sisay Lemma (ETH), Ndereba, Samuel (KEN), Deksisa, Solomon (ETH), Abdirahman, Abdi (USA)

Mile 1 (4:49), Mile 2 (9:45). The men are running in a mass.

The men's race has started!

The Men's race will begin at 10:00AM EDT. Stay tuned.

Women's Race back to top

The Finish (2:23:31). Degefa ran away at mile 5 and led from that point. Although slowing after the hills, Degefa still held her lead to win in 2:23:31. Edna Kiplagat runs strong to finish in second place in 2:24:13. Jordan Hasay runs strong to finish third in 2:25:20. Defending Champion Desiree Linden takes the fifth spot in 2:27:00.

Mile 24 (2:10:53), 40K (2:15:43). Degefa is holding onto her lead and is closing in on the finish line. She has slowed just a few seconds per mile, not enough to allow second place Edna Kiplagat to make up the difference. At this point we will predict with certainty that Worknesh Degefa will win and Edna Kiplgat will take the runner-up spot (at 40K she is 68 seconds behind). Jordan Hasay has moved into third place and it looks like she will hold that podium spot.

Mile 22 (1:59:43), Mile 23 (2:05:22). Degefa's form seems to be deteriorating, it will be interesting to see how she will do over the final miles.

Mile 21 (1:54:16), 35K (1:58:17). Degefa continues to lead, but behind the chase pack has disintegrated. Edna Kiplagat has run awy from the others, but is still 2:26 behind. 12 second behind Kiplagat is Meskerem Assefa. Five second behind Asseefa is Jordan Hasay.

Mile 19 (1:42:44), Mile 20 (1:48:29). Degefa is struggling a bit up the hills, but is nearly through them.

Mile 18 (1:37:18), 30K (1:40:48). Degefa is running up the Newton Hills, alone... If she can crest the hills in good shape, she should do fine on the final 6 downhill miles to the finish. But, as we previously noted, hills in a marathon will be something new to Degefa. The seven women in the chase pack are nearly 3 minutes behind. Desiree Linden is off the chase. The chase pack will not catch Degefa.

Mile 17 (1:31:38). Degefa continues to push toward a 2:21ish finish time. Degefa's previous marathons have all been on the flat Dubai course - it will be interesting to see how she handles the upcoming hills. Nearly three minutes behind, eight women - all looking evenly matched, are running together.

Mile 16 (1:26:09). Degefa leads. Behind, Desiree Linden has decided to push the pace and the chase pack is breaking up. Five women are chasing with Linden, including compatriot Jordan Hasay.

Mile 15 (1:20:54), 25K (1:23:43). It's all about Worknesh Degefa... The chase pack is 2:43 behind.

Mile 14 (1:15:21). Degefa is actually speeding up and if she continues as she is will finish sub-2:21. Only 4 women have run faster at Boston than Degefa is running and none since 2014. Sally Kipyego and Sara Hall have fallen behind the chase pack.

Mile 12 (1:04:39), 20K (1:06:59), Halfway (1:10:40). At halfway, Degefa is 2:28 ahead of the following 12 women.

Mile 10 (54:00). Degefa is on track for a 2:21ish finish. That is fast. In the main pace we still have some Americans including Desiree Linden, Sally Kipyego, Jordan Hasay and Sara Hall.

Mile 9 (48:39), 15K (50:21). Degefa is now 1:34 ahead of the other runners. The question now is whether Degefa can hold onto this pace - this is very unusual. Behind her, 12 women are together: Kiplagat, Edna (KEN), Rotich, Caroline (KEN), Cherop, Sharon (KEN), Linden, Desiree (USA), Ngugi, Mary (KEN), Dibaba, Mare (ETH), Assefa, Meskerem (ETH), Eshetu, Biruktayit (ETH), Saina, Betsy (KEN), Kipyego, Sally (USA), Hasay, Jordan (USA), Hall, Sara (USA), Rono, Philemon (KEN), Tadese, Zersenay (ERI), Ward, Jared (USA), Kipruto, Benson (KEN), Ritzenhein, Dathan (USA), Talam, Festus (KEN), Hayle, Lemi Berhanu (ETH), Kizu, Masao (JPN), Biwott, Shadrack (USA), Kipkemoi, Kenneth (KEN), Kipyego, Christopher (KEN), Gregg, Brendan (USA), Overall, Scott (GBR), Kasaye, Sisay Lemma (ETH), Ndereba, Samuel (KEN), Deksisa, Solomon (ETH), Abdirahman, Abdi (USA)

Mile 8 (43:23). Degefa continues to press her lead. For television viewers, this will be a boring race - none of the other runners will be visible behind Degefa.

Mile 7 (38:08). Degefa is now 35 seconds ahead of anyone else and pushing the pace. She is only 20 seconds behind the record setting pace of 2014...

Mile 6 (32:50), 10K (33:58). Degefa now has a lead of 14 seconds on Cherop and Dibaba who are 15 seconds behind the rest of the field. The women are now headed toward a very fast 2:23 or better finish.

Mile 5 (27:38). Worknesh Degefa is running away from the field and has a five second lead. Behind, Sharon Cherop and Mare Dibaba are running together. The rest of the pack is a couple of seconds behind.

Mile 4 (22:22). Through the water stop, the women are all over the road. Following the water stop, Worknesh Degefa is taking the lead and pushing the pace.

Mile 3 (5:34), 5K (17:34). Nineteen women are in the lead pack, led by Sara Hall. In the lead pack: Hall, Sara (USA), Degefa, Worknesh (ETH), Eshetu, Biruktayit (ETH), Dibaba, Mare (ETH), Linden, Desiree (USA), Hasay, Jordan (USA), Kipyego, Sally (USA), Njuguna, Margaret (KEN), Cherop, Sharon (KEN), Assefa, Meskerem (ETH), Flanagan, Lindsay (USA), Saina, Betsy (KEN), Ngugi, Mary (KEN), Sellers, Sarah (USA), Kiplagat, Edna (KEN), Rotich, Caroline (KEN), Landau, Kate (USA), Mccormack, Fionnuala (IRL), Nagao, Kaoru (JPN).

Mile 2 (11:26). Leading in to the second mile, both Sara Hall and Des Linden looked at their watches and seemed disappointed. Sara Hall then moved to the front to lead the pace and set the pace.

Mile 1 (5:47). Eshetu continues to set the pace with Worknesh Degefa just off her shoulder and Desiree Linden and Sara Hall just behind. In the year that the course record was set, the first mile was run in 5:07. In 2018 with horrible weather, the first mile was run in 6:24. The 5:47 for this first mile is not demonstrating that anyone is shooting for a record, but it is a good pace.

The race has started. Approximately 50 women are in the lead group - the only women eligible for prizes. The race starts with a big downhill and the pace seems fast. Biruktayit Eshetu is setting the initial pace, but it's a large pack.

The Women's race will begin at 9:32AM EDT. Stay tuned.

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Boston Marathon 2019 - As It Happens