Mendota Heights Runner Completes Boston Marathon

Updated 5 p.m. Monday, April 16:  A Mendota Heights runner completed the annual Boston Marathon held Monday despite record heat that prompted race officials to discourage novice competitors. 

Mendota Heights resident Kristin M. O'Gara, 48, finished the race in 3:53:09 (net time). O'Gara placed 150th in her division, 1,780 among female runners and 7,091 overall.

Race officials estimated there would be approx. 27,000 entrants to the race this year. 

No record is available for Thomas Hartley, also of Mendota Heights. 

Sharon Cherop, 28, of Kenya took the top female spot with a time of 2:31:50.

Wesley Korir, 29, of Kenya and Louisville, KY led the men with a time of 2:12:40.

Reuters reports it was the hottest Boston Marathon in three decades.

For photos at the finish line, see .

Original published 5 a.m. Monday:

The annual Boston Marathon attracts thousands of runners from around the world, including Mendota Heights.

Mendota Heights resident Thomas A. Hartley, 48, is registered as bib number 7531 and Kristin M. O'Gara, 48, is registered as bib number 16409.

The marathon, 26.2 miles, travels from the outskirts of the Boston area into the heart of the city. Runners must meet qualifying times based on their age and gender before they are allowed to run the Boston Marathon.

Boston's high temperature for Marathon Monday is 87 degrees, and a warm weather advisory has been issued for runners. The hot temps will likely affect running times and turnout.

The Boston Athletic Association's medical directors are encouraging inexperienced marathon runners to bow out this year. For those athletes that do decide to run, "This will not be a day to run a personal best," states the advisory. A deferment has been offered to runners that decide not to chance it. 

Check out coverage of Marathon Monday on our sister Patch sites including Hopkinton (where the race begins), Natick (just before the halfway point), Newton (where "Heartbreak Hill" is located) and Brookline (close to the finish). 

Good luck to the runners!