Marylander Tatyana McFadden Wins Boston Marathon Women's Wheelchair Race

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Maryland's Tatyana McFadden has cruised to her fourth straight victory in the women's wheelchair division at the Boston Marathon.

Mary Bubala reports it's a major triumph for her as she continues to show courage and strength in everything she does.

Tatyana McFadden finished ahead of all her peers in one hour, 42 minutes and 16 seconds. She led for much of the second half of the race and finished without any competitors near her.

"I had a little bit of a rough start but I need to remember why I was running and the reason and it's to keep the city alive, and it's for MR8 that I ran today," she said.

For the second year in a row, McFadden ran on behalf of the Martin Richard Foundation, created in honor of the eight-year-old who was killed in the marathon bombings.

After her victory, McFadden posed with the Richard family at the finish line.

McFadden lives in Clarksville, Howard County. Her story is one of overcoming incredible challenges. She was adopted from Russia when she was six. Born with spina bifida, she's paralyzed from the waist down.

"The orphanage that she was in was so poor when Debbie McFadden met her, they had no wheelchairs and she had to use her hands to crawl around," said a Boston Marathon sports commentator.

Tatyana McFadden is now one of the world's greatest, elite athletes and there's no stopping her.

"She is a terrific human being and what a spokesperson for sports," said the commentator.

McFadden has also won the Chicago, New York and London marathons and she has 11 medals in the Paralympics.

She was also instrumental in helping pass state and federal legislation, allowing disabled athletes to participate in all sports.