Geoffry Mutai Runs Fastest Marathon Ever At Boston Marathon (PHOTOS)

Kenyan Geoffry Mutai ran the fastest marathon ever on Monday, winning the 2011 Boston Marathon with a time of 2 hours, 3 minutes, and 2 seconds.

On the female side, American Desiree Davila and Kenyan Caroline Kilel were neck and neck down the stretch, with Kilel ultimately taking the race with a personal best 2 hours, 22 minutes and 36 seconds.

An unprecedented 26,964 participant field took off on the 115th Boston Marathon, which kicked off this morning from nearby Hopkinton.

Early reports predicted temperatures to climb into the high 50s and low 60s, ideal weather conditions that left the course record of 2 hours, 5 minutes, 52 seconds, set last year by Kenyan Robert Kiprono Cheruiyot, up for grabs. Although Mutai's time is the fastest time ever over a marathon distance, it will not be recorded as an official world record because of wind factors and a downhill course.

First place winners in the men’s and women’s division earn $150,000 each.

Check out photos from today's race:

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Comments

[Kyra stedgewick]

02:16 AM on 04/21/2011

When two people break the WR by almost a minute, and two other runners almost do the same thing.

There are of course questions about the legitimacy of the course.

Either Boston will either re-structrue its raceto reflect the governing standards of the IAAF or Boston will just be another stupid uncertifiable fast course.

Therefore, Ryan Hall running 2:05 is in fact invalid even as no American has ever run that fast.

Ryan Hall at most is perhaps capable of an 2:08, but a 2:05, I don't think so.

[Catch 22]

10:19 AM on 04/19/2011

We are getting awfully close to a sub 2hr Marathon.

[RoundBobs]

07:49 AM on 04/19/2011

The women's marathon was the best one I've ever seen. The surging and cunter surging over the last five miles by Devila and the Kenyans was the most intense athletic event of ever. Heija Desire Devila. That was the greatest run ever. She pushed those Kenyans to the brink of death and was beat honestly by a runner that ran a faster race today. You'll get em next year.

[jDriscoll]

03:01 PM on 04/19/2011

Last years was intense as well I think. The one where there was a front runner who was breaking down slowly with a mile left and a Russian I believe chasing her down and lost by only a few seconds. Two really good years for Boston

[AbeMartin]

07:34 AM on 04/19/2011

"Although Mutai's time is the fastest time ever over a marathon distance, it will not be recorded as an official world record because of wind factors and a downhill course."

Boston is a tough course and is of regulation length.  Mutai's record should be recognized as such.  This is as stupid as the professional group that oversees bowling to refuse to accept 900 point totals for rolling a 3 perfect game set in sanctioned league competition.

[Roadgeek]

11:03 PM on 04/18/2011

Ryan Hall is the modern day American version of Australia's Ron Clarke.

Lots of potential, lots of media hype about how this is "his year to win", only to fall short in the big race.

Runners World is too much of a fanboy magazine to criticize Hall. Compare to the chutzpah of Melbourne newspapers in 1968 which mercilessly ran the headline "Clarke Fails Again" after Clarke collapsed and nearly died trying to outsprint the Kenyans in the 10,000 meters at high altitude of the Mexico City olympic game.

[RoundBobs]

07:59 AM on 04/19/2011

Wind or no wind. He ran under 2:05. That's hardly anything to sneeze at. At least he's in the same league with these guys. I do agree with your take on Ron Clarke though. Even in the book "How to become a Champion" written by Australia's finest distance coach, Percy Wells Cerutty, written during the reign of Ron Clarke, Cerutty had very little to say, and little flattering of Ron Clarke. He felt he simply lacked the killer instinct of The greatest Austrailian distance runner of all time , Herb Elliot. Period.

[Sean Kerwin]

10:50 AM on 04/19/2011

His time was an American record (granted, won't count because of the course) and I believe his time would have won on any other year. And, he drove the pace for the first half of the marathon. I'd cut him a little slack and give him a couple of years. Personally, I'll cut him a little slack for not coming to Boston thinking he needed to run in the high 2:02's!

[shastaman]

10:41 PM on 04/18/2011

Why should the women earn the same as the men?
there were li.
likely 50 men in front of her
and they say there's no parity
But seriously
nice job today everyone

[Servility]

08:55 PM on 04/18/2011

Because of Global Warming!

[Justin Brogden]

08:33 PM on 04/18/2011

I was so proud to see all the runners today. It's a reminder of not only how amazing the human body is but the human spirit. By the time the runners had reached me they had run 22.4 miles but they ran with such ease. On the other hand, my legs were sore, stiff and starting to buckle after four hours of standing there applauding. Absolutely amazing...

[Justin Brogden]

08:32 PM on 04/18/2011

It was great to see. This is the first time I've been in Boston for the marathon. It was absolutely inspirational. Congrats to all the runners...except the guy who was wearing a "Beat Kenya" jersey. It seemed like poor sportsmanship and though a Kenyan won, it seems like he's the only one who failed!

[cameron d]

12:50 AM on 04/19/2011

Isn't that just a play on the "Beat L.A." shirts that are worn at Celtics games?

[mcu87]

08:31 PM on 04/18/2011

Pssh not impressed. If I just started running again I could do that in a couple of months.

[mono]

08:23 PM on 04/18/2011

19 Kenyan winners in last 21 years!

These runners have redefined the endurance limits.

[Always Conservative]

12:35 AM on 04/19/2011

Fastest animal of earth... A chicken in Kenya...

[skippythepinhead]

10:57 AM on 04/19/2011

Funny how conservative=racist

[Baileygk]

07:49 PM on 04/18/2011

Happy Patriot's Day Massachusetts! I miss you.

[SoutheastBeast]

07:16 PM on 04/18/2011

As a former runner, I am stunned by this time. Wind aided or not, this is a superhuman performance.

[Tim Strane]

07:36 PM on 04/18/2011

I would have never believed that someone could break 2 hours, but this is getting very close to that point.

[Glenn Friedman]

08:05 PM on 04/18/2011

and maybe like Bannister's breaking the 4 minute mile it may break the mental limits..thought they are way beyond my best in my prime:O

[veggiehead]

08:09 PM on 04/18/2011

Agreed! Amazing. I still am in awe with the mile time record! It really is superhuman.

[ACMallet]

06:30 PM on 04/18/2011

Is he related to President Obama?