Korir, Kenyans dominate field in Boston

Boston Marathon: Trailing the leaders by 200 yards when the Boston Marathon slogged through Heartbreak Hill, Wesley Korir passed them one by one until he took the lead on his way out of Kenmore Square.

That’s when leg cramps forced him to slow down and relinquish the lead.

“It’s hot out there, in case you didn’t know,” he told reporters after enduring temperatures that rose into the 80s to win the 116th Boston Marathon on Monday.

Singing religious songs as he plodded along the scorching pavement, the native Kenyan – a permanent resident of the United States – regained the lead from Levy Matebo in the final mile to win in a heat-slowed time of 2 hours, 12 minutes, 40 seconds.

It was almost 10 minutes behind the world best established here a year ago by Geoffrey Mutai and the second-slowest Boston victory since 1985. Mutai, who was hoping a repeat victory would earn him a spot on the Kenyan Olympic team, dropped out after 18 miles with stomach cramps.

Sharon Cherop won the women’s race to complete the Kenyan sweep, outkicking Jemima Jelagat Sumgong to win by 2 seconds in 2:31:50.

Matebo finished 26 seconds behind Korir, and Bernard Kipyego was third as Kenyans swept the podium in both genders. Jason Hartmann, of Boulder, Colo., was in fourth place and the top American.

Canadian Joshua Cassidy won the men’s wheelchair race and American Shirley Reilly was first in the women’s wheelchair division.

• James Parejka, 37, of Pullman, and Jessica Toillion, 34, of Spokane, were the top finishing man and woman among local runners.

Parejka was 104th overall, 85th in his age group and the 93rd male, timing 2:42:23. Toillion timed 3:21:04, 1,949 overall, 152 for her age and the 180th woman. Charles Toillion, 40, Spokane, was the No. 2 area male, timing 3:00:55, 561 overall, 65th in his age and 561 overall.

(Complete list of area finishers in Stat Sheet, page B5.)

Lundqvist leads Rangers to win

NHL Playoffs: Henrik Lundqvist made 39 saves for his fourth NHL playoff shutout, and Brian Boyle scored for the third straight game to break a third-period tie as the New York Rangers won 1-0 at Ottawa.

• Bruins hold off Capitals: Zdeno Chara scored the tiebreaking goal during 4-on-4 play with less than 2 minutes left, and the reigning Stanley Cup champion Boston Bruins finally solved playoff rookie goalie Braden Holtby, winning 4-3 at Washington to take a 2-1 lead in the first-round series.

• Blues outlast Sharks: Andy McDonald scored one goal and set up another in the second period to help the St. Louis Blues regain home-ice advantage in their first-round series against San Jose by beating the Sharks 4-3 in Game 3 at San Jose, Calif.

Jazz edge Mavericks in three overtimes

NBA: Al Jefferson scored 28 points and tied a career high with 26 rebounds as the Utah Jazz defeated the Dallas Mavericks 123-121 in triple-overtime at Salt Lake City to halt a seven-game losing streak against the Mavericks and preserve their slim playoff hopes.

Utah began the day 10th in the Western Conference but pulled one-half game behind Phoenix and Houston for the eighth and final spot with four games remaining.

Dirk Nowitzki scored 40 points against Utah for the second straight time.

• James catches fire to lead Heat rally: LeBron James scored Miami’s final 17 points in a furious one-man rally, finishing with 37 as the Heat pulled out a 101-98 victory over the New Jersey Nets at Newark, N.J.

In a game the Heat never led until the final 51 seconds, James willed them to their 10th straight victory over the Nets. With Dwyane Wade resting, James scored those 17 points over the last 4:48.

Jury selection begins in Clemens’ trial

MLB: Jury selection in the Roger Clemens perjury trial began in Washington, with a larger prosecution team taking on the famed pitcher following last year’s embarrassing mistrial. The government will again try to prove Clemens lied to Congress when he said he never used performance-enhancing drugs.

Last July, U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton declared a mistrial on only the second day of testimony, after prosecutors showed jurors evidence that had been ruled inadmissible. Walton also will preside over the new trial, which is expected to last four weeks to six weeks.

Former Zags coach hired at North Texas

Women’s basketball: Mike Petersen was hired as the women’s basketball coach at North Texas after eight successful seasons at Wake Forest.

In 19 seasons as a women’s head coach at Gonzaga (1985-89), New Mexico State (1992-96), TCU (1996-99) and Wake Forest, his record is 313-250.