At one point in the 2015 Boston Marathon, there were two local runners leading the pack.
San Diego’s Meb Keflezighi and Chula Vista's Desi Davila Linden were among the lead group of elite runners Monday.
Keflezighi, winner of the 2014 Boston Marathon, had hoped to see a repeat performance. However, it wasn't to be. He finished eighth in the men's race with a time of 2 hours, 12 minutes, 42 seconds.
"I'm happy with it," he said after the race. "We just run to help others, inspire."
"It's an amazing experience."
Linden finished fourth in the women's race with a time of 2 hours, 25 minutes, 39 seconds.
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Lelisa Desisa of Ethiopia crossed the finish line first for the men.
Kenya's Carolina Rotich won the women's race in an unofficial 2 hours, 24 minutes, 55 seconds, outsprinting Mare Dibaba down Boylston Street to win by 4 seconds.
Keflezighi won the 2014 Boston Marathon with the second fastest time for an American man in the history of the event. He was also the first American to win the Boston Marathon since 1983.
Born in Eritrea, 39-year-old Keflezighi and his family fled war to establish a new home in San Diego in 1987. He became a U.S. citizen in 1998.
The San Diego High School and UC Los Angeles alum has won four NCAA titles, the New York City marathon, and an Olympic silver medal in 2004.
Linden, a Hilltop High School alumni, clocked the fastest time ever by an American woman at the 2011 Boston Marathon in 2:22:38.
The 31-year-old lives in Chula Vista with her husband, Ryan Linden, a fellow marathoner.
