BOSTON—Reigning Olympic champion Peres Jepchirchir won the women’s race at the Boston Marathon on Monday, as fellow Kenyan Evans Chebet won the men’s race.
Jepchirchir won a see-saw sprint in the final mile on Monday as the world’s most prestigious 26.2-mile race returned to its traditional Patriots’ Day spot in the schedule for the first time since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.
The 28-year-old Kenyan traded places with Ethiopia’s Ababel Yeshaneh eight times in the final mile before pulling ahead for good on Boylston Street and finishing in 2 hours, 21 minutes, 1 seconds.
“I was feeling she was strong. I pushed it,” said Jepchirchir, who earned $150,000 and the traditional gilded olive wreath. “I fell behind. But I didn’t lose hope.”
Evans Chebet completed the Kenyan sweep, breaking free in the men’s race with about four miles to go to win in 2:06:51. Gabriel Geay of Tanzania was second, 30 seconds back, and defending champion Benson Kipruto was third.
American Daniel Romanchuk won his second career men’s wheelchair title in 1:26:58. Switzerland’s Manuela Schar won her second straight Boston crown and fourth overall, finishing in 1:41:08.
Sharing a weekend with the Red Sox home opener—the city’s other sporting rite of spring—more than 28,000 runners returned to the streets from Hopkinton to Copley Square six months after a smaller and socially distanced event that was the only fall race in its 126-year history.
Fans waved Ukrainian flags in support of the few dozen runners whose 26.2-mile run from Hopkinton to Copley Square was the easiest part of their journey. Athletes from Russia and Belarus were disinvited in response to the invasion of Ukraine.
Ukrainians who were unable to make it to Boston were offered a deferral or refund.
“Whatever they want to do, they can do,” Boston Athletic Association President Tom Grilk said. “Run this year, run next year. You want a puppy? Whatever. There is no group we want to be more helpful to.”
Jepchirchir and Yeshaneh spent most of the morning running shoulder to shoulder—or even closer: In the first half, the Ethiopian’s eyes wandered from the course and she drifted into Jepchirchir.
She reached out to apologize, and the two clasped each other’s arms as they continued on.
“She’s my best friend,” Jepchirchir said.
Beaten, Yeshaneh finished four seconds back. Kenya’s Mary Ngugi finished third for the second time in six months, following her podium in October after the 125th race was delayed, canceled, and delayed again.
