IN BRIEF : Jones to Miss Boston Marathon

The 93rd Boston Marathon lost one of its marquee entrants today when Steve Jones of Wales, winner of the 1988 New York City Marathon, withdrew because of injury.

Jones, the runner-up at Boston in 1987 and ninth last year, was forced to withdraw from Monday’s race with acute tendinitis in his right Achilles’ tendon. He said the injury began bothering him April 5 and has not fully responded to treatment.

“It has responded, but not enough for me to run 26 miles, or even 10 minutes,” Jones said. “It’s very disappointing because I felt in very good shape.”

Jones was ranked the world’s top marathoner in 1985.