Marcel Hug, Tatyana McFadden Repeat As Boston Marathon Wheelchair Champions
BOSTON (CBS) - Marcel Hug of Switzerland won his second straight men's wheelchair race in the 2016 Boston Marathon Monday, but it was a lot closer this time.
Hug held off ten-time champion Ernst Van Dyk of South Africa and Kurt Fearnley of Australia at the finish line to win in 1:24:01.
Van Dyk was one second behind in 1:24:02 and Fearnley was only two seconds off in third place at 1:24:03.
Marcel Hug of Switzerland won a very close finish in the men's wheelchair division Monday. (WBZ-TV)
Hug won last year in 1:29:53.
He said the better weather played a big role in his faster time this year.
"It was crazy. Very close finish. Three guys together. Very happy that I had the best end," Hug told WBZ-TV.
"Just tried to go hard has possible at the end, not attack too early, just wait a little bit. It was just going as hard as possible."
Watch : Hug On Winning 2016 Boston Marathon
In the women's wheelchair race, defending champion Tatyana McFadden, took the lead around the 10-mile mark in Natick and never looked back.
McFadden, of Clarksville, Maryland, won in 1:42:15, about ten minutes faster than her 2015 finish on a rainy course.
It's her fourth Boston Marathon title.
Watch : McFadden Wins 2016 Boston Marathon
She high-fived Bill Richard, father of marathon bombing victim Martin Richard, seconds after finishing and later posed for a picture at the finish line with the Richard family.
McFadden rode for Team MR8, which raises money for the Martin Richard Foundation.
Watch: McFadden On 2016 Win
"With the weather and the crowd today, and remembering the reason why you're running just really pushed me forward today," she told WBZ.
"When I was feeling exhausted I just needed to remember why I was running and for the reason I was. That kind of brought the energy back and the focus back. They're such an incredible family. I ran for them today and for the City of Boston."
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