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Marcel Hug, Tatyana McFadden Win Boston Marathon Wheelchair Races

BOSTON (CBS) - Marcel Hug of Switzerland and Tatyana McFadden of Maryland won the wheelchair divisions in the Boston Marathon on a rain-soaked course Monday.

Hug and 10-time Boston champion Ernst Van Dyk of South Africa were essentially side-by side through the first 20 miles of the race, but Hug pulled ahead on Heartbreak Hill in Newton and never looked back.

2018 Boston Marathon
Marcel Hug of Switzerland won the men's wheelchair race for the fourth straight year. (WBZ-TV)

Hug finished in 1:46:26. Van Dyk finished second at 1:47:17.

Last year, Hug completed the course in 1:18:04 in much drier conditions.  He did not speak to reporters after the race, but was instead taken to the medical tent.

McFadden held a huge lead in the women's wheelchair race and went on to win Boston for the fifth time in 2:04:40.

2018 Boston Marathon
Tatyana McFadden of Maryland won the women's wheelchair race for the fifth time. (WBZ-TV)

McFadden did not win last year, but won four straight from 2013 to 2016

 

McFadden struggled in 2017 due to blood clot issues. But she told WBZ-TV after her win this year she knew she had to get back on the course.

"I'm just really, really happy. Today is a day of being 'Boston Strong,' and surviving out there," she said.

"It took a lot to come back. The last month I've been focused on two-a-days and really focusing on building myself back. I never gave up. There were times I really wanted to say 'Maybe not this year.' But I love this sport so much and I just really didn't want to give up. I had to come back."

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