Evans Chebet successfully defended his Boston marathon title after edging out Olympic champion and world marathon record holder Eliud Kipchoge.
Chebet defended his crown with a sprint finish in the final kilometre to clock 2:05:04 ahead of Tanzania’s Gabriel Geay who finished second in 2:06:04 with Benson Kipruto rounding off the podium positions in 2:06:06.
Albert Korir came fourth in 2:08:01 as Morocco’s Talbi Zouhair finished fifth in 2:08:35.
Chebet was delighted with the win in intermittent rain and tough conditions.
“I am happy today. With one kilometre remaining, I felt confident to go all the way and win,” said Chebet.
For Kipchoge, it was his third worst race since turning to marathon running in 2013.
He finished eighth at the 2020 London Marathon where he clocked 2:06:49. At the 2013 Berlin Marathon, he came second in 2:04:05, behind Wilson Kipsang in what was the then world record in 2:03:23.
Men top ten results
Men’s race:
- Evans Chebet (KEN) 2:05:54
- Gabriel Geay (TAZ) 2:06:04
- Benson Kipruto (KEN) 2:06:06
- Albert Korir (KEN) 2:08:01
- Talbi Zouhair (MAR) 2:08:35
- Eliud Kipchoge (KEN) 2:09:23
- Fauble Scott (USA) 2:09:44
- Chahdi Hassan (FRA) 2:09:46
- John Korir (KEN) 2:10:04
- M Mathew (USA) 2:10:17