BAA Half Marathon Draws Elite Runners
BOSTON (CBS) -- More than 8,000 runners took on 13.1 miles on a beautiful fall morning Sunday for the Boston Athletic Association's 15th half marathon.
The race brought some elite competitors, with Kenya's Daniel Salel winning in 1 hour and 56 seconds for the men, and fellow Kenyan Mary Wacera finishing first for the women with a time of 1 hour, 10 minutes and 21 seconds.
"It's an awesome day and I'm so glad the weather turned out – it was perfect out there," runner Chrissy Meagher said. "The leaves were changing, it was beautiful."
Finishing fourth for the women this year was Boston Marathon winner Caroline Rotich.
"It's always special when a Boston Marathon champion comes back with us, she's in training for the NYC marathon," a race organizer said.
But it was also a day of charity for more than 500 runners from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
Joseph St. Pierre was the first to finish for the charity – he also works at Dana-Farber.
"Why not continue my passion for running, mix it with my job?" St. Pierre said. "It's like the physical, mental and spiritual aspect of it."
As runner after runner crossed the finish line, many took steps in memory of those they love.
"Thinking about my mother the whole time she just pushed me through it," runner Carl Roche said. "I have a picture right here on my bib so she was along for the ride."