4-time Boston Marathon women’s champion Ndereba of Kenya withdraws because of injury

4-time Boston Marathon champ Ndereba pulls out

BOSTON — Four-time women’s champion Catherine Ndereba (duh-REH’-bah) has pulled out of the Boston Marathon with a muscle tear.

Race organizers say Ndereba recently suffered an injury to her a muscle that runs between the spine and the femur.

The Kenyan won Boston in 2000 and 2001 and again in 2004 and 2005.

The women’s elite field still includes last year’s winner Salina Kosgei (suh-LEE’-nah KOS’-gay) of Kenya and runner-up Dire Tune (DEER’-ay TOO’-nay) of Ethiopia.

Officials also say Dmytro (d-MEET’-roh) Baranovskyy of Ukraine has been added to the men’s elite field, while Benjamin Maiyo (MY’-oh) of Kenya has withdrawn due to injury.

The 114th Boston Marathon is April 19.