Delmont drew extra motivation from his role as a runner for the Red Cross. Thinking about those who sponsored his efforts drove Delmont to continue pushing, he said.

"When you're getting tired it helps knowing that you're running for more people than yourself," he said. "Friends in the Houses gave five or 10 bucks and I would have let them down if I had not finished."

Delmont, who crossed the line in 4:04.53, said he thought he best part of the race were the fans.

"Little kids wanted to slap my hands, and at mile 24 a group of my friends painted 'MATT' on their chests, which obviously helped get me going," Delmont said.

But the best part of the course, according to Delmont, occurred earlier, when the runners wound their way past Wellesley College.

"For a half-mile or mile, [the course] is just lined with screaming college girls," he said. "That's probably the best part of the course in terms of fan support. They're crazy. They couldn't be more supportive."

Eric S. Rosen '00, whose girlfriend goes to Wellesley, also appreciated the fan support in that particular section of the course. Ultimately, however, the heat and a previous injury overcame the boost from the fans.