BOSTON -- American athletes put on an exciting Marathon Monday, as Desiree Linden and Dathan Ritzenhein crossed as the top Americans at the 119th Boston Marathon.

Linden finished just outside podium contention with a fourth-place time of 2:25:39. She led all women at 23 miles before finally losing contact with the leaders, and led at 15 of the 26 mile markers. Linden was also second in 2011 at the Boston Marathon.

Monday was Linden’s best marathon finish since placing second to Shalane Flanagan (Portland, Oregon) at the 2012 Olympic Trials - Marathon. Flanagan placed ninth in this year’s Boston Marathon in 2:27:47 after losing contact with the lead pack as they hit the Newton hills. Adriana Nelson was the third American woman, placing 13th in 2:38:47.

Ritzenhein (Grand Rapids, Michigan) and defending champion Meb Keflezighi (San Diego, California) put on quite a show Monday, trading the lead throughout the latter stages of the race before falling back in the final miles.

Ritzenhein, in his first Boston Marathon, crossed in seventh in 2:11:20. Keflezighi finished one spot behind Ritzenhein in 2:12:42. Five American men placed in the top 15, including Matt Tegenkamp (Portland, Oregon) in 11th in 2:13:52, Jeff Eggleston (Boulder, Colorado) finishing 12th in 2:14:17, and Nick Arciniaga (Flagstaff, Arizona) placing 14th in 2:18:02.