After saying ‘it’s your turn,’ Shalane Flanagan celebrates Desiree Linden’s win
It might not have been the dream finish that Shalane Flanagan foresaw for herself, but it ended up being one that she predicted for her friend. Fellow American runner Desiree Linden battled through the cold rain to win the 2018 Boston Marathon, and Flanagan was ecstatic for her compatriot.
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In the wake of Linden’s win, the first by an American woman since 1985, Flanagan posted a joyous Instagram celebrating the moment:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BhpT34PgHo7/
It was the culmination of a statement Flanagan made in the aftermath of her own major marathon win the previous fall.
Following the 2017 New York City Marathon in November (which Flanagan won as the first female American champion in 40 years), she answered Linden’s praise with what proved a prophetic tweet:
Now it’s your turn 👊🏼💪🏼🇺🇸
— Shalane Flanagan (@ShalaneFlanagan) November 8, 2017
On Monday in Boston, it was indeed Linden’s turn. The 34-year-old defeated a challenging field and extremely difficult weather to record her first major win. The cold, rain and wind combined to be what Flanagan called, “the most brutal conditions I’ve ever run in.”
Flanagan, despite the conditions, still managed a top-10 finish herself (ending up seventh in the women’s race).
Photos: The Boston Marathon through the years:
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