Defending Champs Drop Out Of Boston Marathon, Dozens Hospitalized
BOSTON (CBS) - More than 4,000 runners elected not to run the Boston Marathon Monday, while several others dropped out during the race as temperatures soared into the 80's.
Related: Boston Marathon Guide
Chief among the dropouts was defending men's champion Geoffrey Mutai of Kenya. A golf cart was sent to pick him up with EMT's near the 18-mile mark. The 30-year-old was on pace to finish at 2:12:52.
Defending women's champion Caroline Kilel also did not finish the race.
Check: Top Finishers
As of 1 p.m., the race's medical director told WBZ-TV 185 runners had quit the race, most due to to heat exhaustion.
Boston emergency officials said 75 runners were transported to area hospitals. Approximately 2,200 runners needed treatment from medical tents, compared to 1,200 last year.
In all, six of the 17 elite women's runners did not finish, while four of the 20 elite men's runners did not finish.
Read: Korir Wins Men's Race | Cherop Wins Women's Race | Cassidy, Reilly Win Wheelchair Races
Specifically, Agnes Kiprop of Kenya, one of the women's elite runners, dropped out right before Mile 14.
Kibrom Temelso of Ethiopia went down just past 15K mark, according to police. The 37-year-old was running at a 3:11:27 pace.
Natick Police said American Dani Steinbacher went down around the 15K mark with difficulty breathing. She was running at a 3-hour pace.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Doug Cope Reports On The Top American Finishers
Podcast
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Doug Cope Has More On The Heat
Podcast
American Dan Reed dropped out of the race a short time later for an unknown issue. He was taken to a medical area, according to Natick police.
In all, the race had 26,716 entrants and 22,426 starters, meaning 4,290 elected not to run. The Boston Athletic Association offered a deferment option due to the high temperatures, though it's unknown exactly how many runners chose to run in 2013 instead.
