But Russians in Boston watching the race - and others watching on television - were horrified to hear the wrong anthem for the second time since another Russian woman won in 2003.

"This, once again, shows how America does not understand the rest of the world," said an Oleg Kotlyarevsky, a Russian magazine reporter. "When presidents arrive, they have the anthem. It's OK. But when athletes win, it is the wrong anthem."

Boston Athletics Association officials didn't realize they had played the national anthem used only between 1996-2000.

"If we did, then that's a mistake on our part and we are sorry," spokesman Jack Fleming said.

Russia reverted to the Soviet-era melody in 2000, but replaced the words with new lyrics written by Sergei Vladimirovich Mikhalkov - the same person who wrote the lyrics to the old Soviet anthem.

Grigoryeva, speaking through a translator, indicated that she was too caught up in the moment to notice.

No such problem for men's winner Robert Cheruiyot. The Kenyan anthem gets plenty of use in Copley Square; Kenyans have won 15 of the last 17 men's races, and he's won three by himself.

Agencies