V 14 N. 22 Ned Price's 2024 Boston Photos

 

                                                   1962  University of Chicago Track Club Athletes

                                               left: Jim Brown (not 'the' Jim Brown) and right:  Ned Price

                                               Yes, 'the' Ned Price

Once again we rely on Ned Price our inveterate resident photographer to bring us the hottest photos on the internet market of the Boston Marathon from Ned's perspective.  And his incredible observations

From Ned:

"59 degrees 7.8 miles no wind"      (Very Hemingwayesque, Ned)

Women's lead pack  Emma Bates in front with

Hellen Obiri waiting patiently (black shorts, white top)

Men in chase pack,  Esa (orange shorts) eventual 2nd placer

Sisay Lemma already dominating the field

Ned's astute observation

"Hellen Obiri is no relation to the Irish women's Clydesdale runner   Helen O"Beerey."

I must confess that I got up late on the west coast and the race was already in its closing stages when I tuned in.  There was an African runner in the lead of what I thought was the Masters race.  Receding hairline, lots of grey hair.  Wow this guy can fly for his age.  But I was wrong again.  He was leading the men's race with an almost insurmountable  lead.  The doors had already been blown off the nearest competitors.   Furthermore he was built like a light weight boxer or a sprinter possibly.  He could no way walk through the typical marathon runner template without getting caught in the quads section of the template or the shoulders and biceps.  This guy was built for things other than marathoning, and yet he was destroying the field.  Sisay Lemma,  congrats.   And let it not be in doubt which company's shoe he was wearing.    Is it also possible now that shoe sponsors' logos are on the elite runners' race bibs?  Indeed it seems to be that way.   

Following photos from my TV screen:

Sisay Lemma,  no doubt about his shoe sponsor

                                                                      Hellen Obiri

Hellen Obiri as well is very strong and looks like she may do some work on the speed bag and heavy  bag in her gym.  My advice to opposing runners is keep a safe distance from her because 

those arms really fly to both sides when she runs, and you do not want to accidentally get hit by them.

Best wishes to both these great runners in Paris this summer.  Below are top ten results for men and women and men's wheelchair.  Unfortunately I missed the women's wheelchair results.  You also get a good look at the thermostat on my living room wall.    George

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             Marcel Hug   Averaged 20.9 mph for 75 minutes 32 seconds.  The Beast.  Math by Richard Mach

There are no sprinters in Ethiopia, so guess Lemma had to move up to marathon.  Bruce Kritzler

 Thanks young fellow.       George, I think the first non-pro should be given an award of some kind.

This picture (below) is of the first guys coming by. They started 23 minutes after the Pro men. Numbers instead of names. Do you know if anything like this been done elsewhere?  Ned

                   Looks like everybody runs for Adidas at Boston, no matter what's on their feet.

Here's some additional info

Obiri's  splits    1st 1/2          1hr 12 min 33 sec.

                    2nd   1/2           1 hr 10 min 34      for a 2 hr 23 min 21 sec

Edna Kiplagat  finished 3rd  in 2 hr 23 min 21 sec.  She is 44 years old.

Sisay Lemma's splits    5Km  14:27   

                                     10Km 14:01    28:28

                                      15Km 14:15   42:43     Chase pack was 44:05 at 15Km

                                       1/2     1 hr 19 sec.       Chase pack was 1 hr 2 min 8 sec

                                       30Km  1 hr 26 min 56 sec    Lemma had 3:00 lead

                                        35 Km 16:00 5 km      1 hr 41 min 56 sec.

                                         full marathon 2 hr 6 min 17 sec.

                                         splits   1:00.19        1:05. 58

                                         Prize money $150,000.00     Olympic marathon winner will collect $50,000.  

                                         Remember Karsten Warholm's comment about Olympic prize money.

                                             "It's the glory, not the money."