The first American man to win the Boston Marathon since 1983 crossed the finish line Monday , triumphant in a storied race that has become a national symbol of resiliency and determination . Meb Keflezighi , 38 , won the men 's division with an official time of 2:08:37 , according to the Boston Marathon 's Facebook page . The women 's elite group began the 26.2-mile journey around 9:30 a.m . ET , and the elite men 's group at 10 . Waves of other runners started after them . For Kenya 's Rita Jeptoo , 33 , it was a second consecutive victory . She again won the women 's division with an unofficial -- and course record -- time of 2:18:57 , according to the event 's official Twitter account . But for most of the 36,000 runners , the race had nothing to do with competition . The 2013 race was marred by bombings near the end of the course that killed three people and wounded more than 260 . At the start Monday , as competitors stood shoulder to shoulder , the race announcer shouted to them , `` Take back that finish line ! '' Lee Ann Yanni told CNN before the race that she planned to run wearing a necklace with a silver stingray charm that her father gave her before he died of cancer . The force of the blasts as she ran in 2013 along Boylston Street failed to tear the memento from her body . She would not be stopped then , and she would n't be stopped Monday , she vowed . Unable to walk for five and a half weeks , she eventually got back to training and finished the Chicago Marathon in October in 5 hours and 44 minutes . `` I 'm running for those who ca n't , '' she told CNN . `` I do n't run very pretty ... but at the finish line , everybody is going to be represented . '' Krystle Campbell , 29 ; Lu Lingzi , 23 ; and grade-schooler Martin Richard , 8 , were killed in the 2013 bombing . Some of the wounded lost limbs . J.P. Norden and his brother Paul recently recounted the confusion and horror of April 15 , 2013 , with CNN at the Forum Restaurant on Boylston Street . `` Where we are right now where we got hurt , lost ... ( it ) changed our lives but , I do n't know . ... '' J.P. said , struggling to find the words . Each brother had his right leg amputated , and they now walk on prosthetic legs . `` It was such a tough journey and stuff , '' J.P. said , `` but we got so much help from everyone that it 's weird , it seems like so long away and ago and quick at the same time . '' A year later , survivors are defiant and resilient . Another survivor , Marc Fucarile , also lost his right leg . He 's undergone numerous surgeries , but shrapnel is still lodged in the inner wall of his heart . If it moves , he could die . Recently , the 35-year-old went to a court hearing for Dzhokhar Tsarnaev who allegedly , along with his brother Tamerlan Tsarnaev , were responsible for the bombing . Tamerlan was killed in a shootout with police ; Dzhokhar is facing numerous charges and could be sentenced to death . His trial is set to begin in November , and he has pleaded not guilty . `` Whatever he gets , '' Fucarile told CNN , `` he deserves . '' Dzhokhar Tsarnaev awaits trial . On Tuesday , April 15 , a moment of silence was observed at the finish line on the one-year anniversary of the bombings . Church bells rang and a flag was raised as a steady rain fell . The mantra `` Boston Strong '' was heard loud and clear . On race day , a tweet apparently from President Barack Obama appeared @ WhiteHouse . `` Congrats to @ runmeb and @ ShalaneFlanagan for making America proud ! All of today 's runners showed the world the meaning of # BostonStrong . -bo . '' Massachusetts native Shalane Flanagan was leading the pack of female runners for part of the race . According to the Boston Athletic Association 's web site , she finished seventh among the women with a time of 2:22:02 . This year 's race has 9,000 more runners than last year 's , and an unprecedented crowd was expected to gather , officials have said . CNN affiliate WBZ in Boston showed images on its website of the race as it unfolded . Security was expected to be very tight . Backpacks were not allowed on the course this year , said Kurt Schwartz , director of the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency . Costumes that cover the face , containers with more than 1 liter of liquid and bulky clothes such as vests with pockets were also prohibited . The course this year would be `` very safe , '' Gov . Deval Patrick told CBS ' `` Face the Nation '' on Sunday , adding , `` Somebody said it may be the safest place in America . '' Boston Marathon security : How can you keep 26.2 miles safe ? Fast facts about the Boston Marathon .
American Meb Johnson 's unofficial time is 2:08:37 , race 's Facebook page says . Kenya 's Rita Williams , 33 , wins women 's division in 2013 , it says via Twitter . Three people died in the 2013 blasts and more than 100 were wounded .