Making the grade in Boston doesn’t carry the same prestige among the international competitors once they return home.

Despite their fantastic efforts yesterday in the 112th Boston Marathon, none of the top-three finishers in the women’s open division was assured of a slot on her respective national team for the upcoming Summer Olympics in Beijing.

Dire Tune of Ethiopia produced a furious kick on the lower end of Boylston Street and finished at 2 hours, 25 minutes, 25 seconds, to edge Russian challenger Alevtina Biktimirova, who came in second at 2:25:27. Kenya’s Rita Jeptoo, the 2006 women’s winner here, placed third with a time of 2:26:34 on the most difficult course of the World Marathon Majors collection.

Tune, 22, is a rising star in Ethiopia. But she was unsure if a prestigious win in Boston would carry her to the streets of Beijing.

“I’m not sure if I am qualified,” Tune said through a translator. “Only three runners (from Ethiopia) will participate in Beijing, and I will only know after my return (home).”

Biktimirova came up on the short end of the closest women’s race in Boston Marathon history. She was in an equally precarious position regarding her standing with the Russian decision-makers for the Olympics. The Russian coaches already have filled two of the marathon openings, leaving Biktimirova and last year’s Boston winner, Lidiya Grigoryeva, in the mix for the third and final spot.

Yesterday, Grigoryeva fell off the pace after the 16-mile marker and finished ninth in 2:35:37.
“I ran a pretty good time today, but cannot say whether I will be part of the Olympic squad right now,” Biktimirova said through an interpreter.

“It will be the decision of the Russian Olympic Committee or the Russian Track Confederation. I really hope they decide to put me on the team. I want to take part in the Olympic Games.”
Jeptoo, 27, is in the prime of her career, and she has wins at Boston, Milan and Stockholm on her resume. But Kenya is a hotbed for distance running, and she is just one of many options.

“In Kenya, there is a lot of competition, and it is hard for a woman to go to the Olympic Games,” Jeptoo said. “It is too early to say if I go or anyone else goes. I was happy to be No. 3 in Boston.”