More than 30,200 runners toed the line Monday in the 127th Boston Marathon, winding through legendary landmarks and streets in one of the world’s top running events.
The storied event spans 26 miles, 385 yards through eight cities and towns. It begins in Hopkinton and takes runners through names even casual runners may recognize, at least once a year: Framingham, Natick, Wellesley and into Netwon at about Mile 18. Just a couple of miles later, runners begin to embrace the love-hate relationship with Heartbreak Hill. They continue on through Brookline and into Boston, where they finish down Boylston Street at historic Copley Square.
Some of the top North Alabama runners and their finishes:
— Keith Steinbrecher, New Market, 2:35, a 6:22 pace;
— Jase Bell, Madison, 2:48, a 6:27 pace; Bell’s time is a PR after he carved 6 minutes off his previous marathon best;
— Tyson Jouglet, Huntsville, 2:51:40, a 6:33 pace and PR; Jouglet is a multiple trail winner and holder of the 2022-23 Huntsville Slam for Ultra events;
— Matt Leeling, Owens Cross Roads, 3:10, a 7:17 pace;
— Andrew Evans, Owens Cross Roads, 3:16, an 8:09 pace;
— Clarissa Hell, Huntsville, 3:19:30, a 7:37 pace; Hell finished fourth in the Chattanooga Half and was a 2022 Boston finisher;
— Shane O’Neill, Huntsville, 3:23, an 8:20 pace;
— Todd White, Huntsville, 3:26, an 8:23 pace;
— Jay Hillis, Florence, 3:35, an 8:37 pace; Hillis competed in the 2022 Boston Marathon;
— Stuart Lamp, Decatur, 3:41, an 8:28 pace.
— Mica Anderson, Huntsville, 3:52:32, an 8:52 pace; Anderson is a longtime trail and local runner;
— Carrie Hawkins, Huntsville, 4:00:56, a 9:12 pace; Hawkins also competed in the 2022 Boston Marathon;
— Amy Cosgrove, Huntsville, 4:26, a 10:11 pace.
Hillis, Bell, Anderson, Foy, O’Neill, Jouglet, Hawkins and Evans are members of Huntsville Track Club. Lamp is with River City Runners in Decatur. White is a multiple Boston Marathon finisher.
Click here to see all of the Alabama finishers in the 2023 Boston Marathon. Click on “State” in the search and choose Alabama.
Monday’s weather conditions included drizzle, scattered showers and a headwind for the runners along the route. Not ideal, given temperatures in the 40s to start the event. The forecast called for increased showers by afternoon as temperatures nudged into the 50s.
Tennessee runners fared well in the event, too, with Will Shaffer of Knoxville leading the way from theTVO footprint. He finished in 2:34, a 6:17 pace. Max Zani of Knoxville was right behind in 2:38, followed by Patrick Platzer (2:40:04) and Kevin Barrett (2:40:55), both of Chattanooga.
Click here to see all the Tennessee finishers in the marathon. Click on “State” in the search and choose Tennessee.
By The Numbers
The 2022 marathon included a handful of runners from north Alabama: Jeremy Provence of Muscle Shoals (2:31), Paul Vest of Huntsville (2:55), Scotty Aycock of Florence (3:21), Clarissa Hell of Huntsville (3:23:20), Matt Casiano of Huntsville (3:23:44), Andrew Evans of Owens Cross Roads (3:23:58), Josh Cornett of Madison (3:26), Jay Hillis of Florence (3:27), Rachel Foy of Huntsville (3:32), Tommy Morris of Huntsville (3:34), Carrie Hawkins of Huntsville (3:39), Sarah Wall of Harvest (3:54), Carol Phelps of Decatur (4:00), John Aikin of Florence (4:34), Annye Smalligan of Huntsville (4:37), Todd White of Huntsville (4:46) and Briana Chrisler of Florence (5:02).
This year, more than 30,200 runners are entered including more than 17,270 men and 12,940 women. The race has residents of all 50 states and 106 countries. Twelve Boston Marathon champions are in the field. The professional field this year was deep, too, and included world record holder Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya making his Boston debut. The 38-year old finished sixth after the hills in the final stretch took him off his pace.
Evans Chebet repeated as men’s champion in 2:05:54. Hellen Obiri won the women’s race in 2:21:38.
The size of the event, one of the biggest in the world, is hard to describe. But consider that finishing with a per-mile time of 6:30 and 7:40 could mean about 7,500 runners crossing the tape within that 70-second span. New York, London, Tokyo, Berlin, Chicago and Boston comprise the Abbot World Marathon Majors.
MAIN PHOTO: Runners cross the line in the Boston Marathon, one of the world’s top running events. Photo courtesy Boston Athletic Association
