126th edition
Women’s elite race winner Peres Jepchirchir of Kenya (l) and men’s race winner Evans Chebet, also of Kenya. Photo: Charles Krupa/AP/dpa. (Source: dpa)
Boston (AP) – Olympic champion Peres Jepchirchir won the Boston marathon with a top time of 2:21:01 hours. Evans Chebet won the men’s event in 2:06:51.
The 28-year-old Kenyan won in one of the strongest women’s fields of the traditional classic after a gripping final sprint with a four-second lead over Ababel Yeshaneh from Ethiopia. Kenya’s Mary Ngugi was third in 2:21:32 hours.
“I thank my God for the energy he gave me,” said Jepchirchir, looking at the increase in pace over the last two kilometers and also congratulated Yeshaneh after the third fastest time of a Boston winner. “Ababel is a good friend of mine and we agreed during the race.” Jepchirchir is the first marathon runner ever to win Olympic gold, as well as in New York and Boston.
Kenya’s men once again fought the race over the 42.195 kilometers in the 126th edition: Chebet won ahead of his compatriots Lawrence Cherono (2:07:21) and last year’s winner Benson Kipruto (2:07:27), who won because of the Corona pandemic had won a race that had been postponed to October 2021.
The 33-year-old Chebet and Gabriel Geay from Tanzania broke away from the field at about kilometer 35 – Chebet then did an intermediate sprint and reeled off the last kilometers solo. “If you feel that the others are getting closer, then you have to pick up the pace. There were a few strong competitors behind me and I really wanted to stay in front,” said the winner.
Russian runners were not allowed to take part for the first time; they are currently banned from all international competitions due to the war between Russia and Ukraine.