Obama congratulates US winner of Boston Marathon

OSO, Wash. (AP) — President Barack Obama has congratulated Meb Keflezighi (kehf-LEHZH'-gee) on becoming the first American man in 31 years to win the Boston Marathon.

The White House says Obama telephoned Keflezighi on Tuesday as Air Force One flew Obama to Washington state to survey damage from a massive mudslide last month that killed more than three dozen people.

Keflezighi won Monday's 26.2-mile race in 2:08:37, one year after a pair of bombings near the finish line killed three people and wounded hundreds more.

Keflezighi took to Twitter after Obama's call to tell his followers, quote, "I have received many congratulatory calls, but I just received THE call from President @ barackobama."