Tucson Nurse Takes Second In Boston Marathon As ASU Grad Wins

TUSCON, AZ – She didn't come in first but she certainly won the Boston Marathon. Sarah Sellers came in second and it is such a remarkable achievement that she's getting as much – if not more – attention than the woman who beat her.

Unlike many of the people who dominate the top slots in the world's top marathons, Sellers is not an elite runner with sponsorships freeing up her time to train.

Sellers is a full -time nurse anesthetist who lives in Tucson and works at Banner-University Medical Center. Again. She works full-time. (Get Tucson Patch's daily newsletter and real-time news alerts. Or, find your local Patch here and subscribe).

Sellers grew up in Utah and went to Weber State where she was nine-time Big Sky champion during her four years at the school, winning multiple times at 5,000 and 10,000 meters.

She finished in 2:44:04, just four minutes behind winner Desiree Linden – a graduate of Arizona State University and the first American woman to win the Boston Marathon since 1985. It was the first time that American women have placed first and second since 1979.

"I think I'm going to wake up and this will be a dream," Sellers told Weber State after winning. "It was a like a hurricane out there."

The Boston Globe said she had to be told more than once that she had really come in second. It was, after, just her second marathon. Ever.

Her first was last September's Huntsville Marathon in Utah. She came in fourth, which qualified her for Boston.

Not only did she come in second and grab the $75,000 prize for doing so, she now qualifies for the United States Olympic Trials.

In the meantime, she'll be back at work on Wednesday.

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Photo via Weber State University.