Fans in Boston witnessed a career-defining moment for young Ethiopian marathoner Lemi Berhanu Hayle, who executed a decisive move to break down defending Boston Marathon champion Lelisa Desisa Monday morning on Boylston street. The 21-year-old crossed the finish line well ahead of Desisa in 2:12:45. The women's race was dominated by a monstrous come-from-behind effort from Ethiopian Atsede Baysa, who secured her first-ever Boston Marathon victory by taking the women's title in a winning time of 2:29:19.

Your 2016 Boston Marathon champions! pic.twitter.com/1nJLUFzRmH

— Boston Marathon (@bostonmarathon) April 18, 2016

With just seven marathons to his name, Hayle's victory marks the first World Marathon Majors win of his career. He also won the Dubai Marathon in a personal best of 2:04:33 in January. 

The men’s race became a duel after a dramatic move by defending champion Desisa at mile 15. Prior to the move, the men’s pack was riding a fairly conservative pace that brought them to the half marathon mark at 1:06:48. 

BOSTON MARATHON: MILE-BY-MILE BREAKDOWN

Desisa’s move prompted fellow countryman Hayle to follow, which turned the race into a proving ground for Ethiopian dominance on the streets of Boston. 

As Desisa tried to break the pack with a quicker pace, Hayle matched every move, which resulted in 5:21, 4:33, and 4:46 splits for miles 15-17. By mile 18, Desisa and Hayle were powering through together and regularly exchanging leads. 

By 40K, Hayle started to make his move against Desisa. It was a move that the experienced marathoner could not respond to, and Hayle had eyes for the finish on Boylston. With a roaring crowd behind him, Hayle soared into the finish to claim his dramatic victory. Desisa followed for second in 2:13:32, and third was claimed by Adhane Yemane Tsegay in 2:14:02.

The 2016 @bostonmarathon Men's Champion! Only 21 years old! #RunBold pic.twitter.com/nZqK13bvHs

— Jack Murray (@JackSBR1) April 18, 2016

The women began at a conservative pace with the entire pack remaining together a little more than halfway into the race. The top pack, consisting primarily of East African competitors, dwindled to eight women at the 14-mile mark, where Joyce Chepkirui took over the lead in a half marathon time of 1:15:25 — fast enough for a projected finish of 2:31.07. Surprisingly, that group did not include former Boston champion Caroline Rotich, who suddenly dropped out around the five-mile mark.

By 16 miles, the women’s pack was down to four ladies — Valentine Kipketer, Tirfi Tsegaye, Flomena Cheyech Daniel, and Joyce Chepkirui. All four women entered 16 miles with a 5:44-mile time and a projected finish at 2:30. For the next several miles, the pace quickened dramatically as Tsegaye made her case for the Ethiopian Olympic Team. She carried the pack of three (Kipketer and Chepkirui), into mile 19 with a 5K split of 17:20 and a projected 2:20 finish. At that point, the pack dropped Daniel.

The famous Heartbreak Hill proved to be a do-or-die moment once again as Tsegaye took advantage of the difficult point in the race to make her move against Kipketer and Chepkirui. But in a shocking come-from-behind effort, Atsede Baysa emerged from 30 seconds behind the top contenders to take the lead from Tsegaye at 2:17.

Seemingly out of nowhere, the Ethiopian blew past the trio of leaders to make her move for the lead late in the race. Filled with momentum, Baysa powered past Tsegaye around the 2:20 mark, where she continued to extend a 30-yard gap toward the finish line. From that point on, the women’s race was secured by Baysa, who continued to extend her lead against the competition. 

Baysa breaks the tape! #BostonMarathon pic.twitter.com/HRjoKa36V2

— Boston Marathon (@bostonmarathon) April 18, 2016

The 29-year-old marathoner broke the finish-line tape in 2:29:19, and was followed by Tirfi Tsegaye in 2:30:03 and Joyce Chepkirui for third in 2:30:50. Baysa's performance is her second World Marathon Majors win since she claimed the 2012 Chicago Marathon in a personal best of 2:22:03.

In her marathon debut, American Neely Spence-Gracey crossed the line for ninth in a finishing time of 2:35:00.

Neely Spence Gracey of Shippensburg is top American female finisher in #BostonMarathon at 2:35:00! @WGAL pic.twitter.com/btAyxWINPp

— WGAL Assignment Desk (@WGALassignment) April 18, 2016

Spence-Gracey ran an incredibly consistent race, crossing the halfway mark in 1:17:01 and the second half in 1:17:59. After the race she told FloTrack that she wouldn't change a thing.

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