Boston Marathon 2012: Jason Hartmann's 4th-Place Finish Gives US Hope

For a moment, it appeared the US may see their first American male win the Boston Marathon in 30 years. But Wesley Korir and two other Kenyan runners squelched that effort and relegated Hartmann to a fourth-place finish.

The win was Korir's first Boston Marathon, though he has won two Los Angeles Marathons. This win may have solidified his place on the Kenyan Olympic team.

Levy Matebo, also of Kenya, finished second.

Hartmann's finish supplies some hope that someday soon, an American can win the race again. The results were much the same on the women's side, as well.

The Kenyan runners swept the podium, as they did on the men's side. Their continued dominance proves the world has an uphill battle in hopes of competing in marathons.

Hartmann's 2:14:31 time was a little over a minute behind the third-place finisher, Bernard Kipyego. It was a slowly run race, primarily because of the hot temperature. The 84-degree heat made this the slowest Boston Marathon in history.

That heat and Hartmann's finish made his performance that much more impressive. 

Last year, 28-year-old American Ryan Hall finished just five seconds off the podium. Though Hartmann's finish was a bit more off the pace, his presence shows the US mounting a consistent challenge to the Kenyans.

The more this happens, the more younger American long-distance runners will be inspired to excel at the sport. 

If this steady ascension continues, the 30-year-old drought for American men may end.

For now, the sport still belongs to the Kenyans.

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