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BOSTON: Meb Keflezighi of the United States celebrates after winning the118th yesterday. (Inset) , of , hoists the trophy after winning the women’s division. — Agencies Keflezighi, Jeptoo win

BOSTON: Meb Keflezighi ended a 31-year Boston of a historic victory for the people of Boston to help ease who won at last year as well, is Kenyan Catherine or Boston start, closed late to keep the American looking Marathon win drought for American men and Rita Jeptoo the recovery from last year’s finish-line horror, much the Ndereba with four titles. Six other women have taken three over his shoulder late but could not overtake him. defended her title yesterday in a race that began with way the Boston Red Sox dedicated their triumph in last as well. Deba was last year’s New York Marathon runner-up “Looking back is not a bad thing,” said Keflezighi. “It can remembrances of last year’s bombing tragedy. year’s Major League Baseball World Series to the city. while Dibaba won the Xiamen Marathon earlier this year in save you a win.” Ethiopia’s Markos Geneti, the Dubai Keflezighi became the first American man to win the “It was my dream to win Boston and to make it just like China for her first title at the distance. Marathon runner-up in January, was fifth in 2:09:50, 13 sec- famed race since Greg Meyer in 1983 while Kenya’s Jeptoo the Red Sox did and do the same thing for the people,” Jeptoo’s training partner, compatriot , onds behind fourth-place finisher Vitaliy Shafar of Ukraine. added to her 2006 and 2013 victory haul in a record time Keflezighi said. was second at Chicago last year and second in Boston in US runner took the lead at the for the 26.2-mile classic. Keflezighi, whose other wins include the 2009 New York 2012 by only two seconds, but settled for fourth this year women’s start with a first mile in 5:11 and she completed A moment of silence was observed before the start by a Marathon and 2012 US Olympic trials, set a personal best in 2:20:41. 5km in 16:10 as the leading group was trimmed to 12. field of 35,755 from 95 nations for the victims of two with the second-fastest US men’s time ever at Boston. His South Africa’s Ernst Van Dyk won his 10th Boston Flanagan and Ethiopia’s Buzunesh Deba set the early bombs hidden inside backpacks that exploded near the best prior Boston finish was third in 2006. Marathon men’s wheelchair crown in 1:20:36 while pace but at 20 miles, Deba grabbed the lead alone as the finish line last year, killing three people and injuring more It marked the first time since 1991 that the men’s win- American Tatiana McFadden took her second consecutive pack was reduced to five, Flanagan falling back and than 250 others. ner was not from Kenya or Ethiopia. Jeptoo set a women’s women’s wheelchair title. Kenyan dropping out. Keflezighi, who was born in Eritrea and became an course record of 2:18:57 to defeat Ethiopia’s Bizunesh Deba Keflezighi took charge at mile eight and although “I ran everything I had in me,” said Flanagan. “I’ll be back American citizen in 1998, held off Kenya’s Wilson Chebet to by 62 seconds with Ethiopian third in 2:20:35. joined for a while by countryman Josphat Boit, he was out to run here until I win it.” At mile 22, Jeptoo made her move win in two hours, eight minutes and 37 seconds. Jeptoo, 33, shattered the prior Boston women’s mark of on his own by the 18-mile mark. and seized the lead, quickly pulling away and seemingly Chebet was 11 seconds adrift with Kenyan Franklin 2:20:43 set by Kenya’s in 2002. The only Chebet, a three-time Amsterdam winner and former stretching her margin with nearly every stride on her way Chepkwony third in 2:08:50. Keflezighi, 38, realized his goal woman to have won more often at Boston than Jeptoo, Rotterdam champion who was fifth in 2012 in his only pri- to the course record — AFP

Preview United evasive on Atletico looking to deliver Moyes sack reports another blow on Mourinho MADRID: Atletico Madrid sent Jose Mourinho strugglers Sunderland, Mourinho’s first league LONDON: Manchester United said yesterday packing without a major trophy in his final sea- defeat at Stamford Bridge in 78 matches. that David Moyes had not been sacked as man- son in Spain and the surprise Champions Mourinho refused to answer questions after ager, but refused to comment on widespread League semi-finalists are itching to land another the game and appeared to blame the referee for British media reports that he was about to be blow on the Portuguese coach. Chelsea’s setback, which severely damaged their fired. Mourinho’s Chelsea play their last four, first title chances, rather than his players. A spokesperson from United told AFP in an email: “David Moyes has definitely not been leg at the Calderon today against an Atletico “They did everything they could,” he told a sacked!” However, when asked if he would leave side riding high in La Liga and through to the news conference. “They fought, they played before the end of the season, journalists were semi-finals of Europe’s elite club competition for from the first to the last second and they told: “We do not comment on speculation.” the first time in 40 years. deserve that (praise),” added the 51-year-old. Several national newspapers claimed that In Mourinho’s third and final campaign at “Sometimes we praise them when we win but I United have decided to sack Moyes after a Real in 2012-13, they had been knocked out of think it’s fair to praise my players after a defeat.” wretched debut campaign, while Sky Sports the Champions League by Borussia Dortmund News declared that he could lose his job “within and Barcelona had wrapped up the La Liga title LOAN DEAL the next 24 hours”. when they hosted Atletico in the King’s Cup There has been some doubt over whether Meanwhile, leading British bookmakers final at their own Bernabeu stadium. Atletico goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who is on stopped taking bets on Moyes being fired. Sky But Miranda’s extra time header secured a 2-1 loan from Chelsea, would be able to play against Bet cut their odds on Moyes leaving United comeback win for Diego Simeone’s inspired his parent club but Simeone said after the Elche before the end of May to 1/4 from 9/4, before MANCHESTER: A poster featuring Manchester United manager David Moyes is pic- Atletico side in an action-packed and ill-tempered game the Belgium international will feature. suspending betting. clash in which Mourinho and forward Cristiano As part of the loan deal, the two clubs agreed Ladbrokes installed United great Ryan tured beside Manchester City fans during the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and West Bromwich Albion yesterday. —AFP Ronaldo were both sent off. “You don’t have to be a penalty clause that meant Atletico would have Giggs, currently a player-coach at Old Trafford, a magician to tell that the result of the final was to pay a hefty fee to deploy Courtois against as the 5/1 favorite to replace Moyes before they, Bayern Munich, but will not compete in the Champions League semi-final at home to not fair, that Atletico is not a just winner,” Chelsea but governing body UEFA said such a competition next season for the first time since Chelsea, he told a press conference: “With all too, suspended betting on their ‘Next manager Mourinho told a post-match news conference. clause was against competition rules. 1995.United’s owners, the US-based Glazer fam- due respect to the question, and I understand to leave’ market. Speculation about Moyes’s Now back at Chelsea, Mourinho is seeking to “Nobody has said anything to me so as it future intensified following Sunday’s 2-0 loss at ily, have so far been supportive. Doubts, the situation, but the match tomorrow is a very avenge that bitter reverse as he makes his latest stands he will play,” Simeone said. “It is not an Everton-the Scot’s former club-which con- though, have now surfaced over whether they important match for us and I am not thinking demned reigning champions United to their will allow Moyes to oversee the club’s final four about anything which is not my players and bid to become the first manager to win the issue for dialogue as far as we are concerned.” 11th defeat of the season and meant they could matches of the season, against Norwich City, Chelsea.” European Cup with three different teams after The Cup final defeat to Atletico was the only no longer qualify for the Champions League. Sunderland, Hull City and Southampton. Moyes received backing from Everton goal- triumphing with Porto in 2004 and Inter blemish on Mourinho’s record against them Moyes was the chosen successor of former Earlier yesterday, Moyes told MUTV, United’s keeper Tim Howard, who said the home fans at in 2010. with Real, who won all eight of their other United boss Alex Ferguson-British football’s in-house television station: “We need to end the Goodison had been wrong to boo the club’s for- He and his expensively assembled squad face meetings during his tenure. However, Atletico most successful manager-following his retire- season on a high. “We want to finish by winning mer manager during Sunday’s game. a stiff task against an Atletico team who are top are the only unbeaten side left in the ment at the end of last season. all of our games. We’ll do everything we possi- “We have brilliant fans, but that was unfair of La Liga and closing on a first domestic league Champions League and have won all five of But Moyes has endured a torrid first season bly can to make that happen.” on him,” Howard said of Moyes, who spent 11 title since 1996 when a team featuring Simeone their home matches in the latest edition, at Old Trafford, with United falling to seventh Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone was years at Everton. In a development that created won a La Liga and King’s Cup double. including superb victories against former win- place in the Premier League and being knocked one name identified as a potential successor to fresh uncertainty at the club, reports emerged Atletico warmed up for today’s clash with a 2- ners AC Milan and Barca. The winners of the tie out of both domestic cup competitions. Moyes in British media reports, but he refused on Sunday that forward Danny Welbeck is con- 0 win at home to Elche, while Chelsea slipped to will play Real or Bayern Munich in the final in They reached the quarter-finals of the to discuss the speculation yesterday. sidering his future at United due to a lack of a shock 2-1 home reverse to Premier League on May 24. — Reuters Champions League, where they lost to holders Speaking before the first leg of his side’s game time this season.—AFP