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A22 SPORTS
Tuesday 9 april 2019
BOSTON MARATHON ments in the hopes of a But that's what I've been
Continued from Page 17 personal best, or the satis- waiting for since November
"I want those who were faction of finishing. of 2015," he said. "I know a
injured through that to "They're coming to our lot of other people have
know that we are here with events, and no one knows been waiting longer."
them," said Cheseto, an All- they're there," said Marla Popp, who finished the
American distance runner Runyan, a two-time Olym- Los Angeles Marathon in 3
at Alaska-Anchorage who pian and five-time Para- hours, 29 minutes, 36 sec-
lost both feet to frostbite lympic champion who onds last month on what
after he was stranded in a has led the association's was supposed to be a
blizzard for 56 hours. Athletes with Disabilities Boston training run, said
"We, as human beings, are program for the past two one the biggest obstacles
very resilient; we have a lot years. "The B.A.A. wants to for para athletes is having
of good people out there; see people to see them for peers to train with, or run
we can show our solidarity the athletes that they are." with, or even just to see on
out there," said Cheseto, Starting next year, the or- the course demonstrating
a native Kenyan who be- ganization will award titles In this July 16, 2004, file photo, Marla Runyan leads the field of what is possible.
runners during the women's 1,500 meters semifinals at the U.S.
came a U.S. citizen in No- — and prize money — in Olympic track and field trials in Sacramento, Calif. "For people who have
vember — seven years to three divisions, recognizing Associated Press been there, that are in the
the day after he went miss- not just the wheelchair rac- hospital bed and they have
ing. "Together, we can do ers who have been an offi- qualification standards for stan. "There's no other race started training for their
good things." cial part of the race for four next year's para athlete out there that's going to 5K, they really need those
The world's oldest and most decades but also ambula- divisions, and she will invite provide what they do. And peers to look up to and kind
prestigious annual mara- tory runners who are visu- runners who meet them. now that the ball is rolling, of guide the way," Popp
thon, Boston was the first ally impaired or amputees. The organization is also hopefully more people in said. "I think that what the
major 26.2-miler (42.195 "We wanted to make sure hosting a U.S. para athlet- my situation will get into the Boston Marathon is going
kilometer) to include a that we were paying at- ics classification session sport." to do in 2020 is bring in elite
wheelchair division, in tention to this emerging el- during marathon week- That would be a "happy level para athletes who
1975. Once again, the ement of the sport," B.A.A. end. (For example, Che- accident," Runyan said, can show others who might
wheelchair racers will be CEO Tom Grilk said. seto is T62, double below which could lead more be coming up through the
the first to break the tape Runners will compete for the knee amputation; Ru- races to include para ath- recovery what's going to
on Boylston Street on April a $1,500 top prize — men nyan, who is legally blind, lete categories; that, in be possible."
15, when the Boston Ath- and women — from a to- competed as a T13 against turn, could encourage Some of them, Popp knows,
letic Association stages the tal purse of $16,500 that is other runners with visual im- more runners with physi- will be among the hun-
event for the 123rd time. on top of the $125,000 prize pairments.) cal impairments to run. Ul- dreds who were wounded
But scattered among the pool for the wheelchair di- "I think it's been a long time timately, Popp would like on Boylston Street in 2013
field of 30,000 that follows vision. coming," said Adam Popp, to see a Paralympic mara- by two pressure cooker
will also be people riding Runyan, who was the top who lost part of his right leg thon for lower-limb ampu- bombs with a design that
handcycles, running on American woman in Bos- to an improvised explosive tees, which hasn't existed maximized lower limb inju-
prosthetic legs or conquer- ton when she finished fifth device while serving with since 1996. ries, and were horrifically
ing other physical impair- in 2003, has helped create the Air Force in Afghani- "That would be my dream. effective.q

Lloyd gets 2 goals in U.S.' 6-0 exhibition rout of Belgium

By GREG BEACHAM 106th and 107th career changer, whether she's
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The goals, tying Michelle Akers on the pitch or coming
World Cup must be getting for fourth place on the U.S.' onto the pitch," Ellis said of
close, because Carli Lloyd career goals list. Lloyd. "That's her role for us.
is looking dangerous. "I'd be foolish to not take I thought tonight, she was
The 2015 World Cup star this opportunity and try to sharp. Fantastic. Played
scored her first two goals seize it," Lloyd said. "I want her role perfectly, getting
of the year in the opening to win. I'm a winner. People on the end of things and
19 minutes of the U.S. wom- can say what they want, getting results."Veteran
en's national team's 6-0 but I know at the end of the defender Ali Krieger also
thrashing of Belgium in an day I can help this team lift made her first appear-
exhibition on Sunday night. that trophy in France, and ance for the U.S. in exactly
Lindsey Horan and Saman- I'm not going to stop until I two years, getting back
tha Mewis added first-half can do that." into Ellis' lineup for her 99th
goals on headers after Belgium defender Heleen Jaques (4) grabs United States for- The team's leading active career appearance after
Lloyd scored twice in the ward Carli Lloyd (10) during the first half of their international goal-scorer had played going 18 months without
air. Alex Morgan also got friendly soccer match Sunday, April 7, 2019, in Los Angeles. only 34 minutes as a substi- a call-up before this two-
a goal early in the sec- Associated Press tute in five games this year, game set of exhibition vic-
ond half as the Americans and she has been expect- tories over Australia and
showcased their offensive well tonight," Morgan said. Morgan scored on a beau- ed to play a reserve role Belgium.
potency in their first-ever "We had some players on tiful pass from the 36-year- this summer after coach Ellis is expected to set her
meeting with Belgium, a the field that hadn't seen it old Lloyd, who showed she Jill Ellis largely relegated World Cup roster for France
well-regarded opponent as much, and I think a lot might be more than a su- her to the bench late last within the next month.
that barely missed World of players really stepped per sub in France this sum- year. But Lloyd capitalized "I have some big decisions
Cup qualification. up. (The World Cup) is such mer. on her start with another to make in the next couple
Jessica McDonald added a long tournament, and In Lloyd's first start of the dynamic display of the of- of weeks, so I think part of
the Americans' fifth head- there are so many vari- year, the goal-scoring hero fensive talent that made looking at (Krieger) was
ed goal in the final sec- ables. We had to make of the Americans' World her FIFA's World Player of to see that," Ellis said. "We
onds of play. sure every player is ready Cup triumph in Canada the Year in 2015 and 2016. want to get as many looks
"Obviously it all jelled really to contribute." came through with her "I've said she's a game- as we can."q