Latvian runner Jeļena Prokopčuka, who won the New York City Marathon in November, missed her chance to win another big American race by just 10 seconds April 17 during the Boston Marathon.
Prokopčuka finished the course in 2 hours, 23 minutes and 48 seconds, just 10 seconds behind winner Rita Jeptoo of Kenya. Third place in the women’s race went to Reiko Tosa of Japan, according to the Boston Athletic Association’s official race results.
The 29-year-old Prokopčuka was one of 7,625 women who finished the marathon. She was the only runner from Latvia.
Prokopčuka is coached by her husband, Aleksander Prokopčuks.
Robert Cheruiyot of Kenya won the men’s race, Ernst Van Dyk of South Africa won the men’s wheelchair race, Edith Hunkeler of Switzerland won the women’s wheelchair race, Joseph Dowling of the United States won the men’s handcycle race and Helene A. Hines of the United States won the women’s handcycle race.
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I’ve many Latvian friends here in Chicago, and am a super International Track and Field fan, and have been following Jelena for years. She has not peaked yet. I’m sure we’ll see sub 2:20’s soon. GO.GO.GO.