King Kipchoge puts Boston Marathon defeat behind immediately, thinks of the challenges ahead

It was a Kenya double at the Boston Marathon as Evans Chebet and Hellen Obiri stormed to victory in the men’s and women’s races on Monday to complete a third straight Kenyan double in the 127th edition of the long-distance-running showpiece.

In rainy, cool conditions, defending men’s champion Chebet upstaged world record-holder Eliud Kipchoge to become the first man to defend the Boston title since Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot’s 2006-2008 hat trick.

Chebet finished in a time of 2hr 5min 54sec, with Tanzania’s Gabriel Geay second in 2:06:04, and Chebet’s training partner and fellow Kenyan Benson Kipruto third in 2:06:04.

But there was disappointment for two-time Olympic champion Kipchoge, widely regarded as the greatest marathon runner of all time, who had been bidding to add the Boston crown to previous marathon victories in Berlin, Tokyo, London and Chicago.

Said the King of Marathon ‘‘I live for the moments where I get to challenge the limits. It’s never guaranteed, it’s never easy. Today was a tough day for me. I pushed myself as hard as I could but sometimes, we must accept that today wasn’t the day to push the barrier to a greater height.

"I want to congratulate my competitors and thank everyone in Boston and from home for the incredible support I am so humbled to receive. In sports you win and you lose and there is always tomorrow to set a new challenge. Excited for what’s ahead”

Nike running coach Chris Bennett said: “I think Eliud Kipchoge’s performance today only exemplifies more just how extraordinary he has been.

“He’s not superhuman. He’s just a super human that happens to be the greatest marathoner ever.

“He has more in common with you than differences.

“Remember that because that’s why he’s badass.”

The 38-year-old had looked perfectly poised through the opening and mid-stages of the race but was broken after a bold attack by Geay at around the 19-mile mark.

As the pack gave chase to Geay, Kipchoge was rapidly left behind and was soon nearly 100 meters off the pace.

Geay remained in the lead through 24 miles in a leading trio alongside Chebet and Kipruto.

But Chebet and Kipruto kicked on in the final two miles and Chebet led with a mile to go before pulling away to retain his crown.

“I’m happy because I know this course very well,” Chebet told ESPN following his win.

“I won last year, and now I’ve won this year -- so maybe next year I’ll come back again.”

While Chebet was able to draw on his experience from last year to master Monday’s course, Obiri pulled off a stunning victory in the women’s event in what was only her second ever marathon.

The 33-year-old has spent most of her career racing over shorter distances, winning two world championship gold medals in 2017 and 2019 over 5,000m, as well as silvers over the same distance at the 2016 and 2020 Olympics.

Obiri, who only raced a marathon for the first time in New York last November where she placed sixth, kept her composure in a hard-fought race to win in 2hr 21min 38sec.

Ethiopia’s Amane Beriso was second in 2:21:50 while Israel’s Lonah Salpeter took third in 2:21:57.

It was a remarkable performance by Obiri, who only confirmed her participation in Boston last month following urging by her coach.