Dire Tune, of Ethiopia, and Alevtina Biktimirova, of Russia, made Boston Marathon history yesterday with the closest women's finish in the race's history.

Part of a pack of 10 women who had stuck together from the beginning of the race, Tune and Biktimirova pulled ahead and fought it out until the end. Biktimirova held the lead, but Tune overtook her during the final stretch. Both women have won other marathons this year. Tune took first in the Houston Marathon in January and Biktimirova won the Honolulu Marathon last December.

The top American woman, Ashley Anklam, took 15th in Boston. Though most of the top women runners ran in the Olympic trials, their place in this race doesn't guarantee them a spot in the Olympics.