Lawrence Cherono wins closest Boston Marathon since 1988; Worknesh Degefa dominates women’s race

By Cindy Boren April 15 at 2:06 PM

A race of more than 26 miles came down to the final few agonizing yards Monday afternoon as Lawrence Cherono edged Lelisa Desisa in the closest Boston Marathon finish since 1988. On the women’s side, the finish was exactly the opposite, with Worknesh Degefa leaving no doubt as she kept her competition out of camera range for most of the race and cruised to a comfortable victory.

It was the men’s race that brought drama to the 123rd running of the marathons as a three-man battle came down to two. Nearly out of gas as the finish line loomed, Cherono and Desisa dueled with arms and legs flailing, but Cherono had just a bit more left in the tank and won in what was very nearly a photo finish. The unofficial times: Cherono of Kenya in 2:07:57; Desisa of Ethiopia in 2:07:59. Kenneth Kipkemoi, also of Kenya, faded over the final 300 yards or so and was third in 2:08:07.

Scott Fauble of Flagstaff, Ariz., was the first American man across the finish line, in seventh place with a time of 2:09:09. Jared Ward, the Utah native who finished sixth in the Rio Olympics marathon, was eighth in 2:09:25.

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It was a gutsy finish by Cherono, who had to be helped by two race officials as he stepped gingerly to the podium for the post-race ceremony. Afterward, he said he was “so happy, so grateful” to have won. “I have never won a major marathon,” he told WBZ, “but I was determined” as the race came down to the wire.

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