Eliud Kipchoge, the reigning world record-holder and heavy favorite, solidified his status as a back-to-back champion by crossing the finish line in Square Copley in a time of 2 hours, 5 minutes, and 54 seconds. On a rainy Monday morning, Kenya’s Chebet Evans pulled away from the pack behind him, finishing behind Kipchoge.
Kipchoge finished sixth in his first appearance at the Boston Marathon, showcasing his long-standing dominance with a truly impressive result.
It was only the third occasion in 20 marathons where he hasn’t finished in first place.
Chebet informed journalists after the competition that his primary goal was to safeguard his championship, rather than surpassing Kipchoge.
Chebet informed journalists, “The main point was that we prepared adequately.” “Engaging in this competition gave us a positive perception of the effectiveness of our training,” boosting our trust in it.

In a race against the clock, although completing it in under two hours, the initial and solitary individual known to have covered a distance of 26.2 miles, surpassing the global record and securing two Olympic gold medals, the 38-year-old has displayed an almost insurmountable level of dominance for the majority of the previous ten years. Taking into consideration all of his accomplishments, Kipchoge approached Monday’s competition as the clear frontrunner, despite never having previously traversed the Boston course.
Kipchoge usually trains on level terrain and has achieved some of his most memorable accomplishments on flat paths, therefore there were doubts regarding his ability to handle the course in Boston. This course is known for its challenging hilly section that comes after the halfway mark of the race, including the well-known Heartbreak Hill.
The response, at least in the initial stages, was that he didn’t intend to withhold anything.
At the hydration station near the 19-mile point, the pivotal moment occurred, as the group gradually decreased from over 20 to twelve and finally to just seven, while a slight shower commenced. Covering miles at an approximate speed of 4:40 per mile, Kipchoge established the tempo right from the beginning and remained prominently positioned in the leading group for the initial half of the marathon.
Kipchoge attempted to grab one of his bottles from the table but missed and went on. In top-tier competitions, elite runners have their own numbered tables at each water station, containing a selection of sports drinks.
The leader had fallen 16 seconds behind him by Mile 20. That gap had grown to nearly a minute by Mile 21.
Gabriel, a Tanzanian runner, and Benson Kipruto of Kenya, who is one of Chebet’s training partners, finished third and second respectively. They followed Kipruto and Geay to take home the win, stretching their lead from the rest of the field. As Kipchoge drifted behind, the top three began to separate themselves.
Scott Fauble was the highest-ranking American, finishing just after Kipchoge in seventh place, with a time of 2:09:44.
Fauble informed journalists, ‘I would have adored joining the forefront group, but they were overly speedy. A majority of them exploded, including Eliud Kipchoge. I nearly captured him.’
Obiri Hellen was convinced by her coach to enter the race late last month, despite being a late entry for the women’s field.
Her performance on Monday confirmed that it was the correct choice.
Obiri utilized her foot speed down the stretch to separate herself from the rest of the field and secure a surprising victory in a tight race, crossing the finish line in a time of 2:21:38.
In both the 2016 Rio Olympics and 2021 Tokyo Games, the individual from Kenya has achieved second place in the 5000-meter competitions. Demonstrating her skills in running slightly lesser distances on the track, she has gained recognition. In her second professional race at this distance, Obiri achieved her initial victory in a marathon.
Obiri was in the mix from the start of the race, but she grabbed the lead at the very end, jockeying with all the runners to be in the top five at the pack.
She informed reporters after her victory, “I attempted to remain patient until the opportune moment,” my coach conveyed to me, “as the marathon is fundamentally centered around the virtue of patience.”
Emma Bates, an American, finished in fifth place, with Lonah Salpeter from Israel taking third and Amane Beriso from Ethiopia finishing second.
Marcel Hug, Susannah Scaroni dominate wheelchair races
Marcel Hug of Switzerland, competing in the men’s wheelchair category, completed the race in an impressive time of 1:17:06, surpassing his previous course record by almost a minute.
Daniel Romanchuk, the second-place finisher, completed the marathon over 10 entire minutes after Hug, the gold medalist in the 2020 Paralympics, who will be awarded a $50,000 bonus for his record-breaking performance. He emerged as the clear winner with a significant lead.
The remaining competitors finished over 5 minutes later, while American athlete Susannah Scaroni claimed victory in the women’s wheelchair race at the age of 31, completing the course in 1 hour, 41 minutes, and 45 seconds.