Michigan Runner Desiree Linden Wins 2018 Boston Marathon

DETROIT, MI — A Michigan runner has won the 2018 Boston Marathon. Two-time Olympian Desiree Linden, 34, of Washington Township, is the first American woman to win the 26.2-mile course since 1985. According to Linden’s Wikipedia page, she finished the race Monday morning at 2:39:55.

This was Linden’s sixth time running in the Boston Marathon. She finished second in 2011 by just two seconds and set her personal record. Last year she came in fourth place.

Linden braved the rain and a slight delay to become the first American woman to win Boston in more than three decades, following Lisa Larson Weidenbach's 1985 win. Linden embraced family and friends amidst cheers after crossing a freezing finish line.

During the race, Linden helped fellow American Shalene Flanagan get back to the pack after Flanagan peeled off into a port-a-potty during the race. Flanagan, a Marblehead, Mass. native, recently became the first woman in 40 years to win the New York Marathon.

Linden trains with the Hansons-Brooks project based in Rochester Hills.

“Des represents everything good about our community,” said Rochester Hills Mayor Bryan Barnett in a statement. “We couldn’t be more proud of her. She’s a determined and accomplished athlete, an Olympian, and now, the first American woman to win the Boston Marathon in 33 years! She never gives up.”

Linden received the City of Rochester Hills’ Community Excellence Award in 2016. When asked about her training, she shared that the Paint Creek Trail was one of her favorite spots. “It’s an amazing surface to go out there and log a ton of miles,” she said.

Screenshot of Desiree Linden via NBCSN

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