First American Since the 1980s Wins Boston Marathon

BOSTON (TheBlaze/AP) — American Meb Keflezighi won the Boston Marathon Monday, a year after a bombing at the finish line left three dead and more than 260 people injured.

Meb Keflezighi, of San Diego, Calif., celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win the 118th Boston Marathon, Monday, April 21, 2014, in Boston. (AP/Charles Krupa)

Keflezighi is a former New York City Marathon champion and Olympic medalist. He ran the 26.2 miles from Hopkinton to the finish on Boylston Street in Boston's Back Bay in 2 hours, 8 minutes, 37 seconds.

Today marks the 118th Boston Marathon; security presence has been increased this year, due to two bombs that were detonated at the finish line last year, killing three people and injuring more than 260 others. (Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)

Keflezighi held off Wilson Chebet of Kenya who finished 11 seconds behind. The 38-year-old from San Diego looked over his shoulder several times over the final mile. After realizing he wouldn't be caught, he raised his sunglasses, began pumping his right fist and made the sign of the cross.

Watch Keflezighi's historic finish:

No U.S. runner had won the race since Lisa Larsen-Weidenbach took the women's title in 1985; the last American man to win was Greg Meyer in 1983.

Rita Jeptoo, of Kenya, celebrates her win in the women's division of the 118th Boston Marathon Monday, April 21, 2014 in Boston. (AP/Elise Amendola)

This year, the women's title was taken by Rita Jeptoo of Kenya, who defended the title she earned last year. She ran Monday's race in 2 hours, 18 minutes, 57 seconds, becoming the seventh three-time Boston Marathon champion.