Marathon champion Desisa returns to Boston for B.A.A. 10K

Lelisa Desisa of Ethiopia, who won the 2013 Boston Marathon, will run another event in the city this weekend: the Boston Athletic Association 10K on Sunday.The 10K will take place just over two months since the Marathon, which was marred by two bombings that killed three people and injured over 260.Desisa, as well as defending 10K champion and distance medley champion Kim Smith of New Zealand, addressed the Marathon attacks, and their thoughts about running the 10K, at a press conference in Boston on Friday.”I’m not afraid to come (to) Boston,” Desisa said.”I have no apprehension coming back,” Smith said. “The BAA puts on many great events. It was unfortunate what happened. They’re working hard with the police in Boston, I know. I feel very safe.”Smith won the 10K last year in 31:36, a record time. The race begins and ends on Charles Street in Boston, with runners getting a view of the Boston Common.”I like the course,” she said. “It’s nice, fast, flat. You can run pretty well on (it). It’s a good course for people to get a PR. It’s a lot easier than the Boston Marathon.”After the 10K, Desisa will present his Marathon medal to the City of Boston to honor the victims of the Marathon attacks.”I have one gift to Boston people,” he said. “On Sunday, when I give my gift to Boston people, I am happy. I am appreciative of Boston people. When I give, I am happy generally.”The race will involve an estimated 6,000 runners.During the conference, Smith also discussed the women’s 10,000 meter final at the USA Track and Field Outdoor Championships, which took place Thursday in Des Moines. Shalane Flanagan of Marblehead, who finished 10th in the marathon at the 2012 Summer Olympics and fourth in the Boston Marathon this year, won the 10,000 meter in 31:43.20.”It was a tough race out there,” Smith said. “I was a little disappointed my training partner (Amy Hastings) got fourth. It was tough out there ? Shalane ran well, like she always does.”Rich Tenorio can be reached at [email protected].