An American Just Won the Boston Marathon

On Monday, an American man won the 118th Boston Marathon for the first time in more than 30 years. Meb Keflezighi, a 38-year-old BAMF, crossed the finish line in two hours, eight minutes and 37 seconds. Keflezighi wasn't a favorite to win, but beat the next-best challenger by 11 seconds. Keflezighi, who lives in San Diego and graduated from UCLA, won the marathon a year after explosions on the finish line of the 2013 Boston Marathon killed three and wounded hundreds.

Keflezighi didn't race last year, but was in the stands about five minutes before the bombs exploded. After winning, he raised his arms in the air triumphantly and kissed the ground three times. It's been 31 years since an American man won the race in 1983; an American woman last won in 1985.

The Eritrean immigrant, whose family fled war in the mid-1980s, can add the Boston win to a long list of accomplishments in long-distance running. In 2009 he won the men's New York City Marathon, ending a 27-year American drought in that competition. But Kenyans have bested all competitors in the Boston Marathon 19 times since 1991.

Last year's defending woman's champion, Rita Jeptoo of Kenya, won the race for a third time this year, setting a women's course record of two hours, 18 minutes, and 57 seconds.

Keflezighi posted an encouraging status to his fellow runners on Twitter before heading to the starting line on Monday.

Before the race, Keflezighi, who faced some injury scares in the lead-up, told running website LetsRun.com that he was hoping to finish strong.

I hope to be competitive like I always am and do my best. No matter what the outcome is I know that I’ve done the best that I can… You know, give it a shot.

Cue America falling in love with this champ. Not a bad way to finish up a historic, emotional marathon.