Second Boston Marathon win a bittersweet moment for Lelisa Desisa

Lelisa Desisa won his first Boston Marathon in 2013. He didn’t have much time to celebrate.

A few hours after the Ethiopian broke the tape on Boylston Street on Patriots’ Day, two bombs near the finish line turned what should be the pinnacle of any distance runner’s career into an afterthought.

Desisa earned his second Boston Marathon title on Monday, finishing in two hours, nine minutes and 17 seconds to claim a golden olive wreath, the US$150,000 first prize and a winner’s medal to replace the one he donated to the city two years ago in memory of the victims.

And this one he plans to enjoy. “This medal, I think, is for me,” Desisa said.

Kenya’s Carolina Rotich won the women’s race, beating Mare Dibaba in a shoulder-to-shoulder sprint down Boylston Street to win by four seconds as the world’s most prestigious marathon took a tentative step back toward normal.

Boston Athletic Association spokesman Jack Fleming interrupted the winner’s news conference to place the trophy on the table next to Desisa and 2014 winner Meb Keflezighi and thank them both for helping the race heal.