Lelisa Desisa Of Ethiopia Wins 2015 Boston Marathon, Meb Keflezighi 8th

BOSTON (CBS) - Ethiopia's Lelisa Desisa won his second Boston Marathon Monday.

The 2013 champ won the 2015 race in 2:09:17.

"I am very happy" he told WBZ-TV. "This race is special from 2013 because I got victories in both marathons."

"The race is difficult.This wind was pushing. If you run too fast it has an effect on the time," Desisa said.

Lelisa Desisa of Ethiopa is presented with the laurel wreath by Mayor Marty Walsh after winning the 119th Boston Marathon on April 20, 2015. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)

Yemane Adhane Tsegay of Ethiopia was second with a time of 2:09:48.

Dathan Ritzenhein of Grand Rapids, Michigan,was the top American finisher, coming in seventh in 2:11:20.

"It was quick. A lot faster than I thought," Ritzenhein told WBZ-TV.

"When I was leading coming over Heartbreak Hill I thought 'This is great.' But they took off and I didn't have the hit to respond there."

This was Ritzenhein's first Boston. He called the experience "amazing."

"The course (was) great. It was awesome. I love Boston, " he said. I'll be back."

Read: Meb: 'I Threw Up' Five Times During Marathon

Defending champion Meb Keflezighi finished eighth in 2:12:42.

"I stopped five times during the race after mile 23," Keflezighi told WBZ-TV. "I threw up."

Watch: The Men's Finish

WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Kim Tunnicliffe reports