Yamamoto wins Boston Marathon men’s wheelchair

Published 8:59 am Monday, April 15, 2013

BOSTON — Japan’s Hiroyuki Yamamoto sprinted to an early lead and cruised to a win in the Boston Marathon men’s wheelchair race.

Yamamoto’s won Monday’s race in a time of 1 hour, 25 minutes and 33 seconds, a minute and 39 seconds ahead of runner up and nine-time champion, Ernst Van Dyk, of South Africa.

Yamamoto’s countryman, Kota Hokinoue, finished third, a second behind Van Dyk in 1 hour, 27 minutes and 13 seconds.

Yamamoto took control early, grabbing a 4-second lead about 3 miles in and increasing it to 17 seconds by the halfway point.

The win was well off the world record time of 1:18.25, set by Canada’s Joshua Cassidy at last year’s Boston Marathon. Cassidy finished eighth this year.

American Tatyana McFadden won the women’s wheelchair race in 1:45.25.