Kenyans Benson Kipruto and Diana Kipyogei Win Boston Marathon

Kenyan athletes Benson Kipruto and Diana Kipyogei on Monday won the 125th edition of the Boston Marathon 

Kipruto broke the tape at a time of two hours, nine minutes, and 51 seconds to secure his first Boston win and third marathon victory of his career. 

The 30-year-old, who won the Prague Marathon in May, finished 10th in the 2019 Boston Marathon. He also won the 2019 Toronto Marathon in 2:05:13, his personal best.

Ethiopians Lemi Berhanu (2:10:37) and Jemal Yimer (2:10:38) finished second and third respectively.

In the women’s race, 27-year-old Kipyogei finished first in two hours, 24 minutes and 45 seconds, ahead of her compatriots Edna Kiplagat and Mary Ngugi. Edna, who won the Boston race in 2017, crossed the line in 2:25.09 while Mary clocked 2:25:32.

Organizers of the world’s oldest annual marathon pushed the race back from its usual April date due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

They also made adjustments to the race, including capping participation to 20,000 entrants and requiring either a COVID-19 vaccine or proof of a negative test.

The race was canceled in 2020 due to the pandemic.