News of the Boston Marathon was understandably sidelined here in the hulabaloo over the Moyes sacking, but in the first race since last year's bomb attacks a couple of extraordinary yet heartwarming things happened.
The race itself was won by a US athlete for the first time since 1983. 38-year-old Meb Keflezighi, who was born in Eritrea but has been in the States since 1987, crossed the line in 2:08:37.
Later in the day, in scenes reminiscent of an early Olympic marathon, five athletes stopped to help a fellow runner who collapsed just short of the finish. With the line in sight, the four concerned competitors carried him over the line.
The crowd exploded into loudest cheer I've heard today. Walking, then jogging, they all, all 5, finished the race pic.twitter.com/HE4QJnh35L
— Wesley Lowery (@WesleyLowery) April 21, 2014
Former Boston Globe writer Wesley Lowery tweeted some images of the heartwarming scene.
Runner falls just short of the finish. Four others pick him up and carry him. I'm literally in tears pic.twitter.com/vb9cjxG6pQ
— Wesley Lowery (@WesleyLowery) April 21, 2014
Pedants might point out that helping a fellow runner in this manner would normally result in the disqualification of all those involved, but at that stage of the race it really didn't matter.
@WesleyLowery @StephanieSimoni In reality having been a distance runner myself, all 5 would have been disqualified. 4 for assisting a runner
— PackerGreg (@DrGTP) April 21, 2014
