Deriba Merga Wins Boston and Crushes Men’s Field

By Scott Douglas
Running Times
Photo by Victah Sailer, Photo Run

Ethiopia’s Deriba Merga won today’s Boston Marathon by taming his infamous enthusiasm early on, and then unleashing a surge in the 16th mile that blasted open the early lead pack of 12. Merga pushed hard through the Newton hills to reach the finish in 2:08:42. American Ryan Hall took third in 2:09:40 after setting what turned out to be a self-defeating, course-record pace from the start. Kenya’s Daniel Rono, who finished third in New York City last fall, was second in 2:09:32. Defending champion Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot dropped out after the Newton hills