Kenya’s Evans Chebet held off two past champions to win the men’s crown and reigning Olympic champion compatriot Peres Jepchirchir captured the women’s title on Monday at the 126th Boston Marathon.

Chebet won in two hours, six minutes and 51 seconds to top the first all-Kenyan podium since 2012, beating 2019 Boston winner Lawrence Cherono by 30 seconds with defending champion Benson Kipruto third in 2:07:27.

“I’m extremely proud,” Chebet said through a translator. “I knew I had it in my legs to win.”

Jepchirchir, last year’s New York Marathon champion, won her Boston debut by edging Ethiopia’s Ababel Yeshaneh in the final strides, taking her fifth victory in a row since 2019 in 2:21:01.

Final mile

That was good enough to defeat Yeshaneh by four seconds with Kenya’s Mary Ngugi third in 2:21:32.

As they battled into the final mile, Jepchirchir made three pass attempts but Yeshaneh countered each. The Kenyan made her final move down the stretch and surged in the last 100 meters for the triumph. “When I arrived at 41km, I knew was going to win the race,” Jepchirchir said. “I was just keeping the energy for the finishing. Ababel was so strong. For me, it was just keeping my energy for the finishing kick.

“I just believed in myself. I usually have hope. When you see the tape for finishing, that’s when the strength comes.”

Jepchirchir ranked Boston among her greatest victories.

“It means a lot to me,” she said. “I believe in myself more. I still have more victories to come.”

The famed 26.2-mile race returned to its traditional date on the third Monday in April after being cancelled in 2020 and contested in October last year due to Covid-19 concerns. A full field of 30,000 competitors took part with Covid-19 vaccinations required for entry into the event.

Chebet, 33, was the 2020 world leader from a Valencia Marathon victory at 2:03:00. He was fourth in last year’s London Marathon.