Sports on this day – Kenya's three-year Boston Marathon winning streak broken

ON THIS DAY Ð APRIL 20 April 20, 2009 MARATHON - Deriba Merga of Ethiopia crosses the finish line to win the men's division of the 113th Boston Marathon. Merga finished in two hours, eight minutes and 42 seconds ahead of Kenya's Daniel Rono and the United States' Ryan Hall. Merga's triumph also broke a three-year winning streak for Kenya's Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot. [REUTERS/Brian Snyder/File Photo]

April 20, 1997

MotoGP - Reigning 500cc world champion Michael Doohan of Australia raises his arm in jubilation during his victory lap after winning the Japanese MotoGP race in Suzuka. Doohan, who won five world championships, had the most successful year of his career in 1997, winning 12 of the 15 races and finishing second in two others.

April 20, 1998

Swimming - Former East German swimmer Christiane Knacke-Sommer tries to cover the lens of a photographer as she arrives at the Berlin-Moabit court as first witness for a doping trial. Knacke-Sommer was the first woman to swim the 100 metres butterfly in less than a minute in 1977 but later admitted to using steroids against her will after her coach Rolf Glaeser added pills to her daily diet.

She voluntarily returned her 1980 Olympics bronze medal.

April 20, 2003

Formula 1 - Ferrari’s Michael Schumacher is overcome with emotion on the winners podium after claiming victory in the San Marino Grand Prix at Imola just hours after his mother Elisabeth, who was in a coma, died in Cologne.

Michael and his younger brother Ralf had flown by private jet to visit her on Saturday before returning for the race where both had qualified on the front of the grid.

While Ralf finished fourth in his Williams-BMW, Michael beat Kimi Raikkonen and team mate Rubens Barrichello to the chequered flag.

April 20, 2009

Marathon - Deriba Merga of Ethiopia crosses the finish line to win men’s division of the 113th Boston Marathon.

Merga finished in two hours, eight minutes and 42 seconds ahead of Kenya’s Daniel Rono and the United States’ Ryan Hall. Merga’s triumph also broke a three-year winning streak for Kenya’s Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot.

April 20, 2013

Football - Sunderland manager Paolo Di Canio reacts after their 1-0 Premier League home win over Everton at the Stadium of Light. Di Canio had been appointed manager -- amid opposition to his political beliefs -- less than a month earlier and he was tasked with keeping the club in the top flight. Sunderland won only two games under Di Canio that season -- including victory over local rivals Newcastle United -- but it was enough to ensure survival with a 17th-placed finish.

April 20, 2017

Tennis - Serbia’s second seed Novak Djokovic plays a shot to Pablo Carreno Busta during his three-set victory over the Spaniard in the third round of the Monte Carlo Masters. Djokovic was knocked out in the quarter-finals by Belgian David Goffin, leading to a split with his coach and fitness team in a bid to rediscover his winning touch.

The year 2017 proved to be a disappointing one for Djokovic, who won only two ATP 250 titles before he withdrew from tournaments in the latter part of the season to recover from an elbow injury.

April 20, 2019

Football - Juventus players celebrate with coach Massimiliano Allegri after the Turin club sealed the Italian league title with a 2-1 home win over Fiorentina.

Juve led the standings from matchday two and never looked back, sealing their eighth consecutive Serie A title, with Napoli finishing second 11 points behind.

Allegri would leave the club at the end of the season having won five consecutive league titles and four Italian cups. He also led them to two Champions League finals during his stint, finishing runners-up on both occasions.

April 20, 2019

Football - Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy celebrates his goal in a 2-2 Premier League draw with West Ham United.

Vardy had struggled to get on the scoresheet regularly under former manager Claude Puel but rediscovered his scoring touch for new boss Brendan Rodgers who was appointed in February.

After Rodgers’ arrival, Vardy scored 11 of his 18 league goals that season in his last 11 games. [Reuters]

 

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