Jepchirchir, Chebet Bag Boston Marathon Titles
Kenyan Evans Chebet beat his previous two-time champions at the 126th Boston Marathon to win the men’s title on Monday while defending Olympic champion and compatriot Peres Jepchirchir won the women’s championship in the 126th Boston Marathon.
Chebet won in 2:6:51 for the first time since 2012 on the all-Kenya podium. He beat 2019 Boston champion Lawrence Cherono by 30 seconds and defending champion Benson Kipruto finished third in 2:7:27.
“I’m proud,” Chebet said through an interpreter. “I know I have what it takes to win the game.”
Jepchirchir, last year’s New York Marathon champion, beat Ethiopian Ababel Yeshaneh at 2:21:01 in her Boston debut for her fifth straight win since 2019.
That was enough to beat Yeshaneh by 4 seconds, while Kenya’s Mary Ngugi was third in 2:21:32.
As they fought their way to the final mile, Jepchirchir made three pass attempts, but Yeshaneh countered each time. The Kenyan took the last step on the field, winning the final 100m sprint.
“When I got to 41 kilometers, I knew I would win the race,” Jepchirchir said. “Ababel was so strong. For me, it was just keeping my energy for the finishing kick.
“I believed in myself. I usually have hope.
Jepchirchir counts Boston as one of her most significant victories.
“It means a lot to me,” she said. “I believe in myself more. I have more victories waiting for me.”
Spectacular performance! Congratulations Evans Chebet and Peres Jepchirchir for bringing home Gold in the 2022 Boston Marathon. Well in Lawrence Cherono and Benson Kipruto for Silver and Bronze. We are proud. pic.twitter.com/iEwkYNQ3M6
— William Samoei Ruto, PhD (@WilliamsRuto) April 18, 2022
