April 21, 2008 Tune wins in thrilling finish Play video

(NECN: Boston, Mass.) - When Dire Tune couldn't pull ahead of Alevtina Biktimirova with a few miles left in the Boston Marathon, she decided to bide her time and outkick her opponent at the end.

The pair ran shoulder to shoulder from Heartbreak Hill on, exchanging the lead from time to time before Tune pulled away on the final turn to win in 2 hours, 25 minutes, 25 seconds on Monday to take the closest women's race in Boston Marathon history.

"I tried to run away from her for the last miles, but she's very strong," the 22-year-old Ethiopian said through a translator. "I was confident when I was not able to run away from her, I could save myself for the final kick."

Tune won in her first try at Boston. Biktimirova finished in 2:25.27, with 2006 champion Rita Jeptoo third in 2:26:34.