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Runners collapse at finish line after race.

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Two Runners Help Rival Finish Boston Marathon

sportApril 23, 2026·215 words·2 min read

This is a B1 (intermediate) English article about two runners help rival finish boston marathon. Read the article below, then check the key words and test your understanding with 5 exercises. You can also listen to the audio and tap any word to see its meaning.

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Two Runners Help Rival Finish Boston Marathon
At the Boston Marathon on Monday, two runners gave up their own race to help another runner finish. Near the end of the race, Ajay Haridasse fell down four times because of bad leg cramps. Aaron Beggs from Northern Ireland stopped to help, but he was not strong enough alone. Then Robson De Oliveira also stopped, even though he was about to set his fastest time ever. The three men finished the race together.
It was also a day of records at the famous race. Kenya's John Korir won the men's race again and set a new course record of 2:01:52. Sharon Lokedi, also from Kenya, won the women's race for the second year. Marcel Hug from Switzerland won the men's wheelchair race for the fourth time in a row. About 30,000 people ran in this year's marathon.
Many people praised the kind act on social media. Charlie Baker, a former Governor of Massachusetts, said this is why he loves the Boston Marathon. Haridasse, a university student, said it was the greatest experience of his life, even though he needed medical help for dehydration afterwards. De Oliveira also needed medical help after the effort. Both runners want to come back for the 2027 Boston Marathon. Beggs was called an amazing sportsman by his running club.

Key Vocabulary

n.
a very long running race, 42 km
n.
a sudden strong pain in a muscle
n.
the best result ever done
n.
the path or route of a race
n.
a chair with wheels for moving
v.
to say good things about someone
n.
when your body needs more water
n.
the leader of a state or area
Vocabulary Translations· 8 words · 12 languages

Every definition is context-aware — translated based on how the word is used in this article, not a dictionary.

marathonn.

a very long running race, 42 km

cuộc chạy marathonmaratonaマラソンmaratonmaratónmaratonماراثونmarathonмарафон马拉松마라톤
crampn.

a sudden strong pain in a muscle

chuột rútcãibraけいれん、こむら返りkrampcalambreskurczتشنّج عضليkrampсудорога抽筋경련
recordn.

the best result ever done

kỷ lụcrecorde記録rekorrécordrekordرقم قياسيrecordрекорд纪录기록
coursen.

the path or route of a race

đường đuapercursoコース、走路parkurrecorridotrasaمسار السباقparcoursтрасса赛道코스
wheelchairn.

a chair with wheels for moving

xe lăncadeira de rodas車椅子tekerlekli sandalyesilla de ruedaswózek inwalidzkiكرسي متحرّكrolstoelинвалидная коляска轮椅휠체어
praisev.

to say good things about someone

khen ngợielogiar褒める、称賛するövmekelogiarchwalićيُشيد بـprijzenхвалить赞扬칭찬하다
dehydrationn.

when your body needs more water

mất nướcdesidratação脱水症状dehidrasyon, susuzlukdeshidrataciónodwodnienieجفافuitdrogingобезвоживание脱水탈수
governorn.

the leader of a state or area

thống đốcgovernador知事、総督valigobernadorgubernatorحاكمgouverneurгубернатор州长주지사

Check Your Understanding

Question 1: Multiple Choice

Why did De Oliveira need medical help after the race?

Question 2: Multiple Choice

What does Baker's comment tell us about the Boston Marathon?

Question 3: Fill in the Blank

Haridasse fell down because of bad leg ______ near the finish.

Question 4: Fill in the Blank

After the race, Haridasse needed medical help for ______ because his body lost too much water.

Question 5: Put in Order

Put these ideas in the correct logical order.

1De Oliveira gave up his fastest time ever and stopped to help too.
2Haridasse fell down four times because of bad leg cramps near the finish.
3The three runners crossed the finish line together.
4Beggs stopped to help, but he was not strong enough alone.

Dictation Practice

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