Boston Athletic Association

2:19 p.m.

MEN

Alan Culpepper crossed the line in fourth. "The last four miles, I wouldn't have been able to make it without the support of the crowds," he commented. "This is right up there with the Olympics. I think this is the beginning of a very positive direction for US distance running."

Results for the men's race at the 109th Boston Marathon:

1. Hailu Negussie, ETH, 2:11:45, $100,000.
2. Wilson Onsare, KEN, 2:12:21, $40,000.
3. Benson Cherono, KEN, 2:12:48, $22,500
4. Alan Culpepper, USA, 2:13:39, $18,000
5. Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot, KEN, 2:14:30, $14,000
6. Timothy Cherigat, KEN, 2:15:19, $12,000
7. Benjamin Kipchumba, KEN, 2:15:26, $9000
8. Andrew Letherby, AUS, 2:16:38, $7400
9. Mohamed Ouaadi, FRA, 2:16:41, $5700
10. Peter Gilmore, USA, 2:17:32, $4200

With regard to Alan Culpepper (4th) and Peter Gilmore (10th): the last time an American placed as high as fourth in Boston was 1987 when Dave Gordan accomplished that feat. The last time two Americans placed in the top 10 was 1993 when Mark Plaatjes placed 6th and Keith Brantly placed 9th.

11:15 a.m.

WOMEN

Welcome to live coverage of the women's race of the 109th Boston Marathon. It's warm and sunny here today, but not as hot as last year, and temperatures are expected to drop as the day goes on. Today, three-time Boston winner Catherine Ndereba of Kenya will be chasing history, trying to become the first woman -- and only third runner in history after legends Clarence DeMar and Bill Rodgers -- to win four. (In addition to arriving at the Hopkinton start line as defending champion, Ndereba won here in 2000 and 2001.) But Ndereba, the second-fastest woman all-time (2:18:47) and the reigning Olympic silver medalist, can expect a tough challenge from Elfenesh Alemu, the Ethiopian who last year ran shoulder-to-shoulder with Ndereba for 10 miles before the eventual champion surged in the last mile for the win.

Also likely to run in the front pack are 2003 Boston winner Svetlana Zakharova of Russia and Ethiopian national-record holder Gete Wami. Getting less attention, but strong contenders nonetheless, are veterans Nuta Olaru of Romania and Bruna Genovese of Italy. Keep a special eye on Moroccan Zhor El Kamch: none other than Joan Benoit Samuelson says she's "built for this course." El Kamch, 32, won the 2004 Rotterdam Marathon in a national record 2:26:10.

There has been one withdrawal this morning from the women's elite field. Eri Hayakawa of Japan, ill with a 102-degree fever for the past two days, has been forced to pull out.

11:30 a.m.

MEN

With just about half an hour remaining until the start of the elite men's race at the 109th Boston Marathon, the village of Hopkinton is alive with countless thousands of competitors, all ready to tour the celebrated course from that sleepy Massachusetts town all the way to downtown Boston.

The elite women are already on the starting line and ready to go. This is just the second year that the elite women start ahead of the bulk of the field.

The men's starting time remains the traditional 12 Noon, at which time, all attention will be focused on Timothy Cherigat, the man who, one year ago, took this race in thrilling fashion in a time of 2:10:37. At a time when the world record stands at 2:04:55, one might conclude that a 2:10 clocking is merely pedestrian; but with temperatures here having, last year, exceeded 80 degrees, Cherigat's win was, more accurately, an example of competitive aggression and astute racing tactics. This year, with the mercury possibly reaching the mid-70s, the 28-year-old Kenyan will have to call on all of that and more if he is to retain the coveted laurel wreath and claim the $100,000 first place award.

Hoping to deny Cherigat the prime position is a group of men with all the credentials to do the job. Although last year's second placer, Robert Cheboror will not be on the starting line - he could not obtain the appropriate travel documents - Robert Cheruioyot, the 2003 winner is back, as are Wilson Onsare (2:06:47 in his marathon debut in 2003), Paul Koech (2nd in Chicago in 2003), Benjamin Kimutai (6th in Boston last year, 2nd in 2003) and Stephen Kiagora (4th here last year).

Might there be a non-Kenyan winner in Boston this year? The odds dictate against it - Kenyan men have won 13 of the last 14 races (Lee Bong-Ju of Korea having been the interloper, in 2001); but, even so, when the name of Alan Culpepper is mentioned, American fans start to pay attention. The 32 year-old Culpepper, placed 6th in the 2002 Chicago Marathon (2:09:41), won the US Olympic Trials last year, then placed 12th in the arduous conditions of the Athens Games. His thunder in that last race may have been stolen by the silver medal of his teammate, Meb Keflezighi, but Culpepper, clearly, has the ability to contend here, especially in a race that may be slowed by temperatures almost as testing as 12 months previously.

Interestingly, Culpepper was out-kicked in the US 15K championship earlier this year by Ryan Shay. He's the other American attracting attention here. Though his PB is a comparatively slow 2:14:08, Shay is a burgeoning talent with top 10 potential. Take note - the last time that two Americans placed in the top 10 in Boston was 1993 when Mark Plaatjes and Keith Brantly did the trick.

Other US names to watch out for are Scott Larsen from Colorado - a DNF through illness in last week's Amsterdam Marathon - and Peter Gilmore from California. The latter is a 27-year-old dark horse from San Mateo, CA with a PB of 2:14:02; the former (35) is an experienced competitor with a PB of 2:14:47 who was the first American in Twin Cities last year. Word around Boston is that both may be ready for a surprise on the streets of Beantown.

11:47 a.m.

WOMEN

The temperature at the women's start was 68 degrees, with an 8 mph crosswind. Morgunova goes through 2 miles in 11:10, followed by Olaru and Zakharova. Ndereba is hanging back in the second pack.

Morgunova leads at 5K, going through in 17:12, with a 7-second lead over Olaru and Alemu. Firaya Sultanova-Zhdanova, the master's superstar, is fourth. A pack of four, including Ndereba, is 25 seconds behind the leader.

Approaching Mile 4, Morgunova slows and quickly drops back to third, with Olaru taking the lead and Alemu just a stride behind.

11:59 a.m.

WOMEN

In the women's wheelchair race, defending champion Cheri Blauwet and Diane Roy of Canada are neck-and-neck at 10K, as the men's elite and mass races are about to begin.

Olaru and Alemu continue to lead at 5 miles, drinking water and dumping it over their heads at every opportunity. Running the last mile in 5:28, they have a 15-second lead over third place. Olaru has a personal best of 2:24:33, which she ran last year in Chicago. This is the third Boston Marathon for the 34-year-old; she was fifth last year and seventh in 2002. She trains in both Romania and Boulder, Colorado.

12:11 p.m.

WOMEN

Olaru and Alemu go through 10K in 34:05, 12 seconds ahead of Morgunova and a full minute ahead of a chase pack of seven, which includes Ndereba, Wami, El Kamch, Sultanova-Zhdanova, Genovese, Zakharova and Shitaye Gemechu of Ethiopia. With temperatures around 70 and not a cloud in the sky, both leaders are trying to keep cool by pouring water on themselves.

In the women's wheelchair race, Switzerland�s Sandra Graf has joined Blauwet and Roy at 15K.

12:17 p.m.

WOMEN

At 10K, Olaru and Alemu were on a 2:23:48 pace, impressive to say the least in the heat. The huge second pack, which includes Ndereba, were on a projected finish of 2:27:57. It's still early, but Ndereba seemed over the past few days to be walking gingerly, and one has to wonder if she is nursing a slight injury.

The leaders hit Mile 8 in 43:51, running the last mile in 5:33. Morgunova is about 12 seconds back, but Olaru and Alemu are gaining on that second pack, which is now maybe 70 seconds back. Alemu is going for water, but Olaru is skipping it.