text: The runner who won the Boston Marathon in 2013 and donated his medal to the city after the deadly terrorist bombings has been crowned this year's men's winner. Lelisa Desisa, 25, of Ethiopia won with an unofficial time of 2 hours, 9 minutes, 17 seconds and beat his previous winning time by more than a minute on a day when security was on high alert for potential threats to competition's 119th race. Thirty-thousand runners cruised through a damp Monday morning route where well-wishers drew 'Boston Strong' in chalk on the pavement to remember the three dead and more than 260 injured in  attack near the finish line two years ago. Scroll down for video . Ethiopian Lelisa Desisa, who won the Boston Marathon in 2013 before a terrorist attack, was the first-place finisher this year with a time of 2 hours, 9 minutes, 17 seconds . Desisa raised his hands in victory and exhaustion as he crossed the finish line to win the Boston Marathon on Monday . After the 2013 Boston Bombings, Desisa donated his medal to the city. Above, he accepts his trophy and crown of laurels this year . 'I'm happy for No. 1,' Desisa said. 'I am happy to win and for a strong Boston 2013.' His countryman Yemane Adhane Tsegay was second with 2:09:48 in mid-40s weather, and Wilson Chebet of Kenya took third in 2:10:22. Caroline Rotich, 30, of Kenya won the women's division after a tense final stretch. Rotich finished in an unofficial time of 2 hours, 24 minutes, 55 seconds, edging out Mare Dibaba of Ethiopia in a sprint finish on Boylston Street. 'I got to the last corner and I saw the finish line tape and I thought this is it, I'm not going to let it go,' said Rotich, who gave Kenya its fifth straight women's victory in Boston. Dathan Ritzenhein was seventh overall in the men's race and the first American in at an unofficial 2:11:20, followed by last year's winner, Meb Keflezighi, in 2:12:42. Keflezighi's triump in 2014 was seen as an inspiring and resilient victory for Boston and the marathon as the annual event continues to bring back memories of 2013. Caroline Rotich, of Kenya, won the women's division with an unofficial time of 2 hours, 24 minutes, 55 seconds . A tired Rotich smiles in jubilation after beating out her adversaries in the final section of the 26.2-mile race through downtown Boston . Champion Rotich edged out Mare Dibaba of Ethiopia in a sprint finish on Boylston Street and was given a silver trophy for the prestigious race . Carlos Arredondo, a first-responder that year, handed out American flags at the finish line on Monday, . The race comes less than three weeks after Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, the then-19-year-old Chechen Cambridge resident who brought bombs to the race, was found guilty of all the terrorism charges against him in a trial that saw moving testimony from victims who had lost loved ones and limbs. Tsarnaev, now 21, could face the death penalty after sentencing in federal court. Some victims of the attack have spoken out saying they are against capital punishment for the young man. Newlyweds Jessica Kensky and Patrick Downes, who lost limbs in the bombing, said that they support life without parole so that Tsarnaev 'disappears from our collective consciousness as soon as possible,' according to the Boston Globe. 'If there is anyone who deserves the ultimate punishment, it is the defendant. However, we must overcome the impulse for vengeance,' they said. Police presence at the Boston Marathon was high two years after the terrorist attack that claimed three lives and injured hundreds . Spectators at the event were made to pass through security checkpoints. Some victims of the attack said that they want bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev to 'disappear from our collective consciousness as soon as possible' Runners including Meb Keflezighi of San Diego and Lelisa Desisa of Ethiopia leave the start line on a damp and windy morning . American Desiree Linden (left) led the pack for a large portion of the 26.2-mile race, though Rotich (second from left) eventually triumphed . Carlos Arredondo, a cowboy hat-wearing first-responder who helped save victims of the 2013 bombing, passed out American flags at this year's event and held a 'Boston Strong' banner . While the events and victims of two years ago were remembered on Monday, the race proceeded as it has done since 1897. The fastest man in the Boston Marathon field, Kenya's Patrick Makau,  dropped out after the 5-kilometer checkpoint. It wasn't clear why he dropped out. The Kenyan's personal best of 2 hours, 3 minutes, 38 seconds made him one of the biggest threats to defending champion Meb Keflezighi's hopes of repeating Monday. Caroline Rotich of Kenya won the women's division after a tense final stretch. Marcel Hug of Switzerland won the men's wheelchair race with a time of 1:29:53. It was his first win at the event . American Tatyana McFadden continued her reign atop the Boston Marathon women's wheelchair race with her third consecutive victory . Dibaba's countrywoman, Buzunesh Deba, was third in the women's race, and American Desiree Linden finished fourth after leading for much of Monday's race. Marcel Hug of Switzerland won the men's wheelchair race. It took him 1:29:53 for his first Boston win. The 28-year-old finished fourth last year. Hug deprived Ernst Van Dyk of his 11th Boston Marathon victory. The South African is already the most decorated Boston competitor with 10 titles. American Tatyana McFadden continued her reign atop the Boston Marathon women's wheelchair race with her third consecutive victory. McFadden rolled down Boylston Street to finish in an unofficial 1 hour, 52 minutes, 54 seconds. Dr Bryan Lyons (center) pushes Rick Hoyt in the Boston Marathon. Hoyt has become a fixture at the event through the years after being pushed by his father Dick in the race 32 times . Dathan Ritzenhein, (left) of Rockford, Michigan, was the first American to finish. Rotich (right, left) and Mare Dibaba of Ethiopia (right, right) raced to the finish line before Rotich won the women's race . Roughly 30,000 runners chose to participate in the damp 2015 Boston Marathon, which first was run through the city's downtown in 1897 . The event saw the grit of competition joined by some tenderness as Dustin Hicks, right, of Temple Terrace, Florida, proposed to Laura Bowerman after crossing the finish line. She accepted . She wore a singlet in memory of Martin Richard, the 8-year-old boy who was killed in the 2013 finish line bombing. McFadden, 25, is a four-time Paralympian and also the reigning champion of the Chicago, New York City and London marathons. The Russian-born adoptee and Maryland native also finished second in the 1 kilometer Nordic skiing sprint in the 2014 Paralympics. One small difference at this year's race was the absence of runner Dick Hoyt, 75, who instead served as Grand Master, according to Boston.com. The father became a fixture at the competition over the years after pushing his disabled son Rick, 53, along the course more than 32 times. The family has also set up a non-profit that advocates for better self-esteem among disabled youth. 'Orange Is The New Black' actress Uzo Aduba runs the Boston Marathon on behalf of the Dana Garber Cancer Institute . A runner collapses on the finish line of the Boston Marathon after the trek through windy and rain, which is expected to get worse in the afternoon . Crowds at the event were smaller this year, thought to be due to weather. Above, spectators on Boylston Street cheer on competitors near a T metro station . The Boston Marathon this year came at a pause in the trial of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, who may face the death penalty after being found guilty of the 30 charges against him .
target: Lelisa Desisa came in first place with 2 hours, 9 minutes, 17 seconds .
  Caroline Rotich of Kenya won the women's division with 2 hours, 24 minutes, 55 seconds after spring finish against Mare Dibaba of Ethiopia .
  Security high at event two years after homemade explosives killed three near the finish line of prestigious race .
  Competition comes less than three weeks after Boston Bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was found guilty of terrorism for explosions at 2013 finish line .