BOSTON MARATHON:Lidiya Grigoryeva of Russia won the rain-soaked Boston Marathon's women's race yesterday to become the first non-Kenyan woman to win in eight years and first Russian to take the top prize in 14 years.

The 33-year-old won in two hours, 29 minutes and 18 seconds, edging out 2006 runner-up Jelena Prokopcuka of Latvia. Madai Perez of Mexico finished third.

In the men's race, defending champion Robert Cheruiyot won his third Boston Marathon in the slowest race since 1977. Crossing the line in two hours, 14 minutes and 13 seconds, the 28-year-old was 20 seconds in front of fellow Kenyan James Kwambai.

The only person not affected by the weather was Suni Williams, the NASA astronaut aboard the International Space Station.

She was running simultaneously on a treadmill, harnessed in to offset the zero gravity.