Double Glory For Kenya As They Claim Boston Marathon Titles

Diana Kipyogei led an all-Kenyan podium as she finished with a time of 2hrs, 24mins 45secs to win the Boston Marathon on Sunday.

The 27-year old was making her debut in a major marathon and her last victory came in last year's Istanbul marathon.

Kipyogei crossed the tape ahead of her compatriots Edna Kiplagat and Mary Ngugi, who completed the podium.

"I am so delighted to have come here and won. It was a tough race but I had prepared well for it and I want to thank my coaches and the management for the help they gave me.

"I felt strong today and after about 29kms, I decided to open the gap,"  Kipyogei said after the race.

The veteran Kiplagat finished second in 2:25:09, while Ngugi came a couple seconds after in 2:25:20 and yet another Kenyan Monicah Ngige finished fourth.

In the men's race, Benson Kipruto clocked 2:09:51, winning the 42-kilometre men's marathon ahead of Ethiopia's Lemi Berhanu and Jemal Yimer. 

This was Kipruto’s second marathon victory of the year following his 2:10:16 win in Prague in May.

American CJ Albertson led most of the race but he could not do much to contain the Africans when it counted as Kipruto did well to hold off the Ethiopian duo.

The Kenyan pulled away with less than 10 kilometres to go and had secured a commanding 41-second lead heading into the last mile, absorbing the cheers along Boylston Street.

Kipruto finished 10th in the 2019 Boston Marathon. His best finish came in the 2019 Toronto Marathon when he crossed the finish line in 2:05:13.