Boston, MA (AHN) - The 'Nor'easter' severe weather front threatened to push back the 111th Boston Marathon in the same way as it cast aside six Major League Baseball games on Sunday. However, the storm weakened in the morning enough to allow the event to continue, although it would play a factor later in the race.

Winds howled at up to 52 mph before the start of the race, but then calmed by the sound of the first gun before picking back up on the final stretch.

Russian women's champion Lidiya Grigoryeva braved the conditions to finish at two hours, 29 minutes and 18 seconds to win the women's race. She finished 40 seconds ahead of Latvia's Jelena Prokopcuka, who was the two-time defending New York City marathon champion.

Ann Alyanak and Kristin Price finished as the top two American runners, coming in two seconds apart. Alyanak finished first at 2:38:55.

Kenya's Robert Cheruiyot won the men's side of the marathon, finishing in two hours, 14 minutes and 13 seconds. The top four runners were all from Kenya and the Kenyans claimed five of the top six and seven of the top 10 spots.

James Kwambai finished 20 seconds off of the lead and Stephen Kiogora was 14 seconds in back of Kwambai.

Peter Gilmore was the top American runner as he finished in two hours, 16 minutes and 41 seconds.