Grand Rapids native Dathan Ritzenhein finished in seventh place at today's Boston Marathon.

Today's race was the first time competing in the Boston Marathon for Dathan Ritzenhein. He was the first American man to finish, finishing with a time of 2:11:20. The winner, Lelisa Desisa of Ethiopia, finished in 2:09:17.

Runner's World recently examined the success of runners from Michigan at the Boston Marathon. They said runners they contacted suggested the success was due to "everything from good coaching to a blue-collar work ethic to the toughness demanded by outdoor running during Michigan’s nasty winters."

Desiree Linden of Rochester Hills finished fourth among women at today's Boston Marathon. She was the first American woman to finish.

Grand Rapids native Greg Meyer won the Boston Marathon in 1983.

Ritzenhein told BAA.org that Greg Meyer was one of three former Boston Marathon runners whose advice he would be relying on for today's race.

Ritzenhein is a three-time Olympian. His personal best marathon time is 2:07:47 recorded in Chicago in 2012.

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