Ethiopian marathon runner honors Boston victims

May 26, 2013 | Associated Press

By BRADLEY KLAPPER

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — The winner of the men's race at the Boston Marathon says he is returning his winner's medal to honor the city and those killed and injured in the terrorist bombings near the finish line of one of the world's top running events.

Lelisa Desisa says sport should be a pleasure and never a battlefield. He made the announcement Sunday at a ceremony with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry. Kerry also honored the woman's runner-up and the men's third place finisher. All three athletes are from Ethiopia.

The April 15 explosions killed three people and injured more than 260 others.

Kerry is in Ethiopia to mark the 50th anniversary of the African Union.