sport news Boston Marathon 2024: Half a million fans line the streets on Patriots' Day for ... trends now By Daniel Matthews and Associated Press Published: 16:03 BST, 15 April 2024 | Updated: 16:10 BST, 15 April 2024 Viewcomments Patriots legend Rob Gronkowski is waiting at the finish line for the 30,000 runners taking part in Monday's Boston Marathon. All 50 US states - and nearly 130 countries - were represented in the 128th edition of the historic race, with around 500,000 fans expected to line the streets in Boston. The action kicked off around 9am ET with the men's and women's wheelchair race before the elite runners hit the roads half an hour later. Then, at 10am ET on Monday, the throng of amateur runners began the 26.2-mile journey from Hopkinton to the finish line on Boylston Street. Waiting at the end of the world's oldest and most prestigious annual marathon was former NFL tight end Gronkowski. The 34-year-old spent nearly a decade in New England, winning three Super Bowls alongside Tom Brady with the Patriots. Britain's Eden Rainbow-Cooper crosses the finish line to win the women's wheelchair race Around 500,000 supporters are expected to line the streets in Boston for the historic race Former New England Patriots tight end Gronkowski was named 'grand marshal' of the race Around 10am ET on Monday, the throng of amateur runners began the 26.2-mile journey Gronkowski was named 'grand marshal' of the race, having won the 2024 Patriots’ Award. He was seen holding the trophy - and chucking a football - early on Monday morning. 'We couldn´t ask for a better day,' he said, before climbing into an electric car that carried him along the course. 'The city of Boston always comes out to support, no matter the event. The weather is perfection, the energy is popping.' Security was tight in Boston, with this year’s race marking 11 years since the tragic bombing that killed three people and injured hundreds more. The Patriots' Day race also fell on One Boston Day, when the city remembers the victims of the 2013 tragedy. At the finish line on Boylston Street, bagpipes accompanied Govenor Maura Healey, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and members of the victims' families as they laid a pair of wreaths at the sites of the explosions. Sisay Lemma of Ethiopia secured the lead in the men's race on Monday morning Switzerland's Marcel Hug secured a sixth win in the men's wheelchair race - in record time In the early action, Britain's Eden Rainbow-Cooper won the women's wheelchair race, while Switzerland's Marcel Hug righted himself after crashing into a barrier before coasting to a sixth victory in the men's race - in a course-record time. Hug already had a four-minute lead about 18 miles in when reached the landmark firehouse turn in Newton. He spilled into the fence, flipping sideways, but quickly restored himself. He finished in 1 hour, 15 minutes, 33 seconds - breaking his previous record by 1:33 to win his 14th straight major marathon and his 24th overall. The festivities began around 6am, when race director Dave McGillivray sent about 30 Massachusetts National Guard members off. Rob GronkowskiTom Brady Share or comment on this article: Boston Marathon 2024: Half a million fans line the streets on Patriots' Day for 128th edition of historic race... with NFL legend Rob Gronkowski waiting for 30,000 runners at the finish line All rights reserved for this news site (dailymail) and under his responsibility