Peres Jepchirchir wins Boston Marathon

Peres Jepchirchir wins Boston Marathon; Madison de Rozario takes third place in wheelchair division

marathon

Kenyan Olympic runner Peres Jepchirchir is celebrating after winning the women’s division at the Boston Marathon, on the 50th anniversary of the first women’s race.

The twenty-eight year old traversed the 42 kilometre long race in 2 hours, 21 minutes, 1 seconds. 

Her win on Monday makes her the first person to win an Olympic gold, NYC Marathon and the Boston Marathon titles. 

In the last few kilometres of the race, Jepchirchir ran alongside Ethiopia’s Ababel Yeshaneh, switching places for the number one position, before making a break on the final stretch on Boylston Street.

Her win marks the fiftieth anniversary of the first time women were permitted to race in the marathon. Back in 1972, just 8 women ran the marathon. This year, there were over 12,000.

“I was feeling she was strong. I pushed it,” Jepchirchir said after the race. “I fell behind. But I didn’t lose hope.”

Yeshaneh, 30, completed the race four seconds behind Jepchirchir. 

The pair were running shoulder to shoulder for most of the race — at one point in the first half of the race, Yeshaneh lost focus for a moment and coasted into Jepchirchir.

Yeshaneh extended a hand of apology, only for her competitor to clasp her arm, and continue on, in support of each other. 

“She’s my best friend,” Jepchirchir said after the race, where she won $150,000 and a traditional gilded olive wreath.

This year’s marathon marks the 126th year the event has been held, with more than 28,000 athletes competing. It is also the first race held since the beginning of the pandemic. 

In the men’s division, Kenyan Evans Chebet won the race, finishing with a time of 2 hours, six minutes and 51 seconds. 

In the women’s wheelchair division, Switzerland’s Manuela Schar took home the crown — her second straight win and fourth overall, finishing in 1 hour, 41 minutes and 8 seconds. 

Australia’s Madison de Rozario came third, behind Susannah Scaroni, with a time of 1 hour, 52 minutes and 48 seconds.

Image: AP Photo/Winslow Townson

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