BOSTON – Kenya’s Lawrence Cherono sprinted to victory in the Boston Marathon on Monday, overhauling Ethiopia’s Lelisa Desisa in the final few metres of the gruelling race to claim a thrilling win.
In damp, chilly conditions, Cherono, Desisa and Kenya’s Kenneth Kipkemoi broke away from the field over the final few miles as the world’s oldest major marathon reached a dramatic conclusion.
Desisa, the 2013 World Champion and two-time Boston Marathon champion, looked to be on course for victory as he kicked for home in the final 200m.
But with the crowds at Boston’s famous Boylston Street finish line roaring them on, it was Cherono who timed his finish to perfection, overhauling the grimacing Desisa just a few metres from the tape to claim a magnificent win in 2hr 7min 57 sec (2:07.57).
Cherono raised his arms in celebration after claiming the biggest win of his career in his first ever appearance in the Boston Marathon.
There was disappointment for defending Boston champion Yuki Kawauchi of Japan, who never challenged the leading pack before crossing the finish line in 17th place.
What a finish! Congratulations Lawrence Cherono! 2019 Boston Marathon Men’s Elite Champ🥇 pic.twitter.com/evoFSvr9Mj
— Boston Marathon (@bostonmarathon) April 15, 2019
Earlier, the women’s race saw Ethiopia’s Worknesh Degefa claim the biggest win of her career after leading almost from start to finish.
Degefa hit the front in the early stages before pulling away to finish in 2hr 23min 31sec (2:23.31).
The 28-year-old had forged into a two-minute lead by the 12-mile mark and had pulled away to lead by four minutes through 20 miles.
Degefa’s pace slowed dramatically over the closing stages, as Kenya’s Edna Kiplagat, the 2017 Boston champion, kicked hard in pursuit.
But although Kiplagat steadily chipped away at Degefa’s lead, narrowing the gap to around one minute with a couple of miles to go, Degefa never looked in danger of being overhauled.
Worknesh Degefa is your 2019 Boston Marathon Women’s Elite Champ! pic.twitter.com/QiHaVnMh5o
— Boston Marathon (@bostonmarathon) April 15, 2019
Kiplagat crossed in second in a time of 2:24.13, while Jordan Hasay of the United States finished third.
Defending champion Desiree Linden of the United States was fifth in 2:27.00.