Daniel Romanchuk and Manuela Schär struck gold at the 2022 Boston Marathon to open their Abbott World Marathon Majors Series XIV accounts.
Romanchuk powered to his second victory in Boston after losing his title to Marcel Hug in 2021.
The Swiss Silver Bullet withdrew before the race due to illness, leaving the American as the strong favourite to take the title. Romanchuk had company in the early miles from his compatriot Aaron Pike, but soon left his fellow University of Illinois athlete behind, pushing through the halfway point to claim the extra eight series points.
Romanchuk negotiated the Newton Hills to stay well clear of danger and finished in 1:26:58, five minutes and 51 seconds ahead of Pike, with Great Britain’s Johnboy Smith in third, six seconds behind Pike.
For Schär, this was her second Boston win in six months, and her 15th Abbott World Marathon Majors win of a glittering career.
Schär’s talent for handling the early downhill section of the Boston course allowed her to establish a lead almost immediately, and she did not look back from there.
Despite a COVID-interrupted training build-up, the reigning AbbottWMM champion seemed unaffected, finishing in 1:41:08, five minutes clear of Susannah Scaroni. Paralympic champion Madison de Rozario completed the women’s podium in 1:52:48.
“This one is special and I don’t even know why,” said Schär I was more nervous than I usually am.
“Preparation was a bit difficult. I wished I had two more weeks or so for training. I didn’t quite know where I stood with COVID-19 a few weeks ago. I’m just so glad I’m back, the crowd was amazing and I just needed that today to race.”
