Kenya’s Hellen Obiri stormed to a brilliant victory in the women’s race at the Boston Marathon on Monday, winning a thrilling closing duel with Amane Beriso to take the title in only her second race over the distance.
Obiri, a two-time world champion over 5,000m, surged home in 2hr 21min 38sec to see off the challenge of Ethiopia’s Beriso over the final mile.
Beriso took second in 2:21:50 while Israel’s Lonah Salpeter took third in 2:21:57.
Defending champion Evans Chebet powered to back-to-back victories in the Boston Marathon on Monday as Eliud Kipchoge’s quest to add to his collection of major marathon titles ended in disappointment.
In wet and windy conditions, 2022 champion Chebet of Kenya took his time before surging away in the closing stages to become the first man to defend the Boston crown since compatriot Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot completed a hat trick of victories between 2006-2008.
Chebet finished in a time of 2hr 5min 54sec, with Tanzania’s Gabriel Geay finishing second in 2:06:04, and Kenyan Benson Kipruto third in 2:06:04.
Two-time Olympic champion and world record holder Kipchoge — who had been bidding to add the Boston crown to previous marathon victories in Berlin, Tokyo, London and Chicago — trailed home in sixth place in 2:09:23, around three-and-a-half minutes adrift of Chebet.
Kipchoge had looked in prime form over the opening stages, coolly leading a group of 10 runners through the halfway stage in 1:02:19.
