BOSTON — Sheri Piers has sniffed the top 10 at the Boston Marathon numerous times over the years, finishing as high as 11th in the grueling race.
The Falmouth runner made her home state and country proud as the first American woman to cross the finish line in Copley Square while finishing 10th overall in the women’s field, completing the 26.2-mile journey from Hopkinton in 2 hours, 41 minutes, 55 seconds on a hot Patriots Day where temperatures climbed into the 80s.
Overall, the women’s race featured a dramatic two-horse duel between Sharon Cherop and Jemima Jelagat Sumgong, both of Kenya, who were dead even through 35 kilometers.
In the end, it was Cherop who wound up prevailing, pulling away down Boylston Street in 2:31:50 while Sumgong checked in at 2:31:52.
The last five women’s races at Boston have been decided by eight seconds or less, and the top two women shared an embrace after crossing the finish line.
The men’s race was just as dramatic, with Wesley Korir of Kenya pulling away down the stretch and breaking the tape in 2:12:40. Levy Matebo, also of Kenya, came in second in 2:13:06.
Piers’ previous best Boston finish came in 2009, when she finished 11th overall in 2:37:04. She competed in the U.S. Olympic trials in Houston earlier this year, finishing 24th out of 152 runners.
Amazing accomplishment! Congratulations!
OK, she came in 10th. Maine!!! We’re #10! We’re #10
(it is impressive, relatively speaking)
???
She came in 1st in the Women’s race this year.
In years past, she had been in the Top Ten – numerous times.
Try reading the article.
er …. might you do the same thing before commenting. She placed 10th among all women, 1st only among US women. (apperently, not 1st among US women either)
You’re right. The headline is misleading .She is ‘A’ top finisher, not ‘THE’ top.
Still, not bad.
Updated above ….. she did a good job but she is also not 1st among the US women. Somebody jumped the gun and didn’t credit the right person. Maybe they didn’t like her name or something.
Even if a runner from Japan is living in the US, she is technically listed as a Japan runner, as per BAA regulations.
… Not according to the Marathon results.
Check the citizenship listing here, champ:
http://www.baa.org/top-finishers.html
Aren’t you the answer grape. Perhaps you need to point this out to the Boston Marathon Officials who are listing Japanese born, but US Citizen Mayumi Fujita as the 1st US woman to cross the finish line.
Ryan are you the BDN author of this article?
“She came in 1st in the Women’s race this year.
In years past, she had been in the Top Ten – numerous times.
Try reading the article.”
I’m sure you will realize soon enough, if you haven’t already. She was the top US woman to finish, not the top Woman.
It’s quite funny that you were so quick to throw stones.
woah … update …. She is not the top US woman finisher. Mayumi Fujita is the top US finisher among women.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1147342-boston-marathon-2012-results-finishing-times-for-biggest-names
Fujita is from Japan. Get your facts right before you post.
All people with Japanese names are from Japan … er … OK
Maybe you need to pay more attention. All the news services are getting it wrong according to you. Maybe she has duel citizenship
http://marathontraining.co/boston-2012-marathon-jason-hartmann-first-american-to-finish/
Thanks for clearing that up for us…..
Really Ryan? And Smith and Jones are from England is that your point? Unless Sitting Bull was in the race I’m pretty sure your name doesn’t determine your citizenship.
The headline says top American-born female finisher, meaning top female runner out of those born in the U.S., but not top finisher over all.
The headline was changed
Congrats I dont even like driving 26.2 much less even fathoming the thought of running it.
Seems pretty clear that this article is not correct. She placed #10 among women, and #2 among US women.
>The top American women’s finisher was Mayumi Fujita in a time of 2:39:11.
http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/other_sports/marathon/view.bg?articleid=1061124932&srvc=sports&position=recent
and
> Two Americans broke the top 10: Japanese-born Mayumi Fujita, seventh in 2:39:11, and Maine’s Sheri Piers, 10th in 2:41:55.
http://www.weei.com/sports/boston/this-just-in/21191881/korir-day-kenyan-rallies-win-boston
Congrats!!!..
He’s busy in Columbia. Seems some of his people have not been paying their bills, or arguing about the quality of the local services.
You say that as if having countrymen from Kenya is less honorable than having them from England or Scotland or Japan or Russia. Perhaps someday your mind can blossom, Ms. Cherry.
But the most impressive fact is the one that the story left out, she is over 40. Check out those abs, most Mainers don’t even know there are muscles under their bellies.
Congratulations Sheri!
Nice job changing the headline. Now, give credit to the actual top US women’s finisher as well.