Daniel Kemoi made history at the 2019 Blue Cross Broad Street Run by becoming the first racer in more than a decade to get back-to-back first place finishes.
Kemoi's 2019 win comes on the heels of his 2018 victory, where he finished in 45 minutes and 44 seconds.
"This is my first race of the season. I've been training a few months for this," Kemoi said at the finish line.
It was a soggy day for the 40th running of the Blue Cross Broad Street Run, but many of the 40,000 runners said the cool water felt great.
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The race, straight down Broad Street from North Philadelphia to the Navy Yard, is a signature event in the Philadelphia sports calendar.
"Everybody loves this run," said one runner from New Hope. "Everyone comes out and cheers everybody on, and when you feel like you are getting down just give someone a high five and they will lift you right up. It's awesome."
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"I feel good," Kemoi said, thanking the organizers for inviting him again and thanking the other runners. "I feel happy."
Not too far behind Kemoi was Susan Jerotich, who took first place in the 2019 women’s division.
"I think the rain affected me," she said after the race. "I did not run what I expected today."
But, she added, she was happy with her first-place showing and makes no excuses.
"When you are running you have to focus on finishing the race not on the water," she said.
The rain also affected the wheelchair race, which Tony Nogueira won for the eight year in a row. Nogueira said the rain affected his traction on his racing chair's wheels.
He dedicated his win to a friend who had recently passed away.