BOSTON  – An elite runner with family roots in Shickshinny ran her first marathon here yesterday, and was the first American female to cross the finish line in one of America’s biggest footraces.

Jordan Hasay, 25, finished the Boston Marathon in 2 hours, 23 minutes – the fastest debut in a marathon by an American female ever, by nearly three minutes, Boston.com reported.

Her father, Joseph Hasay, grew up in Shickshinny and scored more than 2,000 points while playing for the Northwest Area High School basketball team.

Joseph Hasay told Runner's World magazine before the race that his daughter was running in honor of her mother, Teresa, who died unexpectedly at age 56 in November. Jordan Hasay wore her mother’s engagement ring during the race.

“It’s definitely for her,” Jordan Hasay, now of Oregon, told CBS Boston after crossing the finish line. “I love her so much. She’ll always be with me.”

Mr. Hasay, 60, told Runner's World he’s seen a change in his daughter since his wife’s death.

“She has blossomed since my wife’s passing,” he said. “It could have went both ways. It could have went left or it could have went right. And everything went right. I was concerned that she would take the negative course, but she didn’t. She took the positive course. She has blossomed. Totally blossomed. It’s just amazing to see that.”

Joseph Hasay, who met Teresa at a Gold’s Gym in Venice Beach, California, told Runner's World that his children always knew athletics were important in their family.

His wife loved to run and do triathlons and was Jordan’s first training partner. Jordan became a phenom in track events, becoming a two-time NCAA indoor champion in the mile and 3,000 meters while attending the University of Oregon. But in the past year, she’s switched to road races like the marathon.

“She’s tough,” Hasay told the magazine. “That’s how her mom was. Her mom was always smiling but deep down inside? Oooh, she’s tough.”

In Shickshinny, cousin and district judge John Hasay, who went to school with Joseph Hasay, said he was glad to her of his relative’s success.

Joe always let him know when Jordan was going to be on TV, like when she competed at the Olympic Trials a few years ago, which aired on ESPN, he said.

“It’s always exciting to watch her race,” Hasay said. “She’s a great girl. She’s always had a positive attitude and she’s a good, down-to-heart kid.”