BOSTON - Desiree Linden splashed her way through icy rain and a near-gale headwind to a Boston Marathon victory on Monday, the first American woman to win the race since 1985.
The two-time Olympian and 2011 Boston runner-up pulled away at the end of Heartbreak Hill and ran alone through Brookline to finish in an unofficial time of 2 hours, 39 minutes, 54 seconds.
Linden made her country and her alma mater proud.
Linden attended Arizona State University from 2001-2005. She studied psychology and ran for the Sun Devils' cross country team, achieving All-America honors in 2003.
On Monday, a field of 30,000 runners fought drenching rain, temperatures in the mid-30s and gusts of up to 32 mph on the 26.2-mile trek from Hopkinton to Copley Square.
A crowd of fans—thinned and muffled by the weather— greeted Linden with chants of "U-S-A!"
The Arizona State Sun Devils said it best: Chills.
12 News contributed to this report.
