<p>American runner Meb Keflezighi said memories of the victims of last year's bomb attack carried him through the last, difficult miles of this year's Boston Marathon.<br /><br />The Californian shocked observers on Monday by becoming the first American man since 1983 to win the world-renowned race, over a field of younger East African favorites.<br /><br />"This is probably the most meaningful victory for an American, just because of what happened here last year," the 38-year-old told reporters shortly after breaking the tape.</p>.<p>"Those four victims, we can't get them back, and those people that were injured by the same token, I wanted to use their energy to win it," said Keflezighi, who ran with the names of three bombing victims and a university police officer who authorities say was shot dead by the bombers three days later, written on his race number in marker.<br /><br />Keflezighi covered the race's hilly 26.2 miles (42.2. km)with a personal best time of two hours, eight minutes and 37 seconds, narrowly defeating Kenyan Wilson Chebet, 28, who nipped at his heels during the final miles.<br /><br />Keflezighi's approach to the race was risky. He broke off from the pack early, leaving himself vulnerable to the brutal uphills just outside Boston's city limits. <br /><br />"I kept thinking Boston strong, Boston strong, Meb strong, Meb strong," he said, referring to the city's unofficial motto since the bombing. </p>.<p>Results: Men: Mebrahtom Keflezighi (US) 2::08:37, 1; Wilson Chebet (Kenya) 2::08:48, 2; Franklin Chepkwony (Kenya) 2::08:50, 3.</p>.<p>Women: Rita Jeptoo (Kenya) 2::18:57, 1; Buzunesh Deba (Ethiopia) 2::19:59, 2; Mare Dibaba (Ethiopia) 2::20:35, 3.</p>
<p>American runner Meb Keflezighi said memories of the victims of last year's bomb attack carried him through the last, difficult miles of this year's Boston Marathon.<br /><br />The Californian shocked observers on Monday by becoming the first American man since 1983 to win the world-renowned race, over a field of younger East African favorites.<br /><br />"This is probably the most meaningful victory for an American, just because of what happened here last year," the 38-year-old told reporters shortly after breaking the tape.</p>.<p>"Those four victims, we can't get them back, and those people that were injured by the same token, I wanted to use their energy to win it," said Keflezighi, who ran with the names of three bombing victims and a university police officer who authorities say was shot dead by the bombers three days later, written on his race number in marker.<br /><br />Keflezighi covered the race's hilly 26.2 miles (42.2. km)with a personal best time of two hours, eight minutes and 37 seconds, narrowly defeating Kenyan Wilson Chebet, 28, who nipped at his heels during the final miles.<br /><br />Keflezighi's approach to the race was risky. He broke off from the pack early, leaving himself vulnerable to the brutal uphills just outside Boston's city limits. <br /><br />"I kept thinking Boston strong, Boston strong, Meb strong, Meb strong," he said, referring to the city's unofficial motto since the bombing. </p>.<p>Results: Men: Mebrahtom Keflezighi (US) 2::08:37, 1; Wilson Chebet (Kenya) 2::08:48, 2; Franklin Chepkwony (Kenya) 2::08:50, 3.</p>.<p>Women: Rita Jeptoo (Kenya) 2::18:57, 1; Buzunesh Deba (Ethiopia) 2::19:59, 2; Mare Dibaba (Ethiopia) 2::20:35, 3.</p>