Best showing for U.S. in Boston Marathon since 1985

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An Ethiopian man, Deriba Merga, and a Kenyan woman, Salina Kosgei, won Boston Marathon titles Monday.

But it also was the best day in Boston for U.S. runners since 1985.

Ryan Hall of Big Bear and Kara Goucher of Portland, Ore., each finished third.

‘I’ve never experienced anything like this,’’ Hall said. ‘And I’ve been in the Rose Parade, so that’s a pretty big deal.’’

Hall was the California cross-country champion as a junior and senior in high school. He also won the state 1,600 meters as a senior. He finished 10th in the Olympic marathon last summer in Beijing.

Goucher finished ninth in the 5,000 meters and 10th in the 10,000 meters in Beijing. She made her marathon debut less than a month later, finishing third in the New York Marathon.

-- Randy Harvey