Kenya’s Evans Chebet successfully defended his Boston Marathon title on Monday, topping the pack at Heartbreak Hill before crossing the finish line in an unofficial time of two hours, five minutes and 54 seconds .
On the women’s side, Hellen Obiri, a two-time Olympic silver medalist in the 5,000m, won the marathon after taking part in a sprint down Boylston Street that saw her stop the clock at 2:21; 38. She thus completed the Kenyan sweep of the event.
“I tried to be patient and wait for the right moment [pour attaquer], said Obiri, who finished sixth in the New York City Marathon last fall. Today was my day. »
It was the third best time in the history of the race, which was in its 127th edition. At the same time, Chebet prevented the world record holder in the distance, Eliud Kipchoge, from adding another title to his impressive record.
The 38-year-old veteran has won two Olympic marathons and four of the top six marathons on the planet. The Boston Marathon, in which Kipchoge was taking part for the first time in his career, is the only one to have eluded him so far — he has never taken part in the New York Marathon. He also smashed the two-hour mark in a promotional race that took place in a park in Vienna, Austria.
Chebet, 2021 Boston Marathon winner Benson Kipruto, and Gabriel Geay dropped Kipchoge around the 32nd mark, and the trio remained united until about 5 km from the finish line. Geay won a duel for second place, 10 seconds behind Chebet, but two seconds ahead of Kipruto.
“When you run, you don’t run against an opponent,” said Kipruto, who trains with Chebet. When we woke up this morning, we prepared for the race, not to face an opponent… And that is what happened. »
Kipchoge, winner of 12 career marathons, finished sixth.
Several world record holders were among the participants, including some Olympic and Paralympic medalists. In addition, major marathon champions from 27 countries, including 12 former winners of the Boston race, are included, according to the Boston Athletic Association, which is responsible for organizing the event.
Also among the participants was former Boston Bruins captain Zdeno Chara, who finished the race in 3:38; 23. Chara, who wore No. 33 with the Bruins, had No. 3333.
On Saturday, the city of Boston marked the 10th anniversary of the Boston Marathon bombing. The 2013 race was halted after two pipe bombs exploded on Boylston Street near the finish line.
Police used a robotic dog near the start line on Monday to ensure the scene was safe. This one was followed by photographers, who sketched the scene on the spot.
About 30,000 athletes completed the 42.2 km leading to Copley Square in Boston today. A light rain soaked the asphalt in the morning, and the riders were faced with a headwind. The temperature hovered around 10 degrees Celsius.
Switzerland’s Marcel Hug won the men’s wheelchair title after setting a new mark – it was his sixth career victory in Boston – while American Susannah Scaroni savored her first victory despite the fact that she had to stop at the side of the road early in the race to tighten the bolts of a wheel.
This year’s race included a new category reserved for non-binary athletes.
At around 6 a.m. this morning in Hopkinton, event director Dave McGillivray sent about 20 members of the Massachusetts National Guard, who patrol the course each year, to announce the start of the marathon. . He thanked them for their dedication, and wished them good luck on the circuit.
Captain Kanwar Singh, of Malden, Massachusetts, said it was a special day for him.
“10 years ago, the heart of the city stopped beating. But we pulled together, and we picked ourselves up dramatically, he said. I always tell people I meet, ‘Never bet against the Bostonians. »