The Boston Marathon was won by Evans Chebet of Kenya on Monday, as the race returned to its traditional spot on the schedule for the first time since the start of the coronaviruses epidemic.
The men's lead pack of about 20 was reduced to two as it came out of Heartbreak Hill, and Chebet pulled away from Gabriel Geay with about 4 miles to go to win in 2 hours, 6 minutes, 51 seconds.
Daniel Romanchuk won his second wheelchair title. The Swiss woman won her second straight Boston crown and fourth overall.
More than 28,000 runners returned to the streets from Hopkinton to Copley Square six months after a smaller and socially distanced event that was the only fall race in its 126-year history.
The few dozen runners who ran from Hopkinton to Copley Square were supported by fans who waved Ukrainian flags. Athletes from Russia and Belarus were disinvited due to the invasion of Ukraine.
Ukrainians who couldn't make it to Boston were offered a deferral or a refund.
Boston Athletic Association president Tom Grilk said that they can do whatever they want. Do you want a puppy? Whatever. There is no group that we want to be more helpful to.
The 125th race was the first to be canceled since the event began in 1897. It was delayed until October.
The 50th anniversary of the first official women's winner was marked by this year's race. The first woman to finish the race was Bobbi Gibb, who first ran in 1966 among the unofficial runners known as bandits.
The woman who finished sixth in 1972 said she had been planning to hide in the bushes and run as a bandit before women got the go-ahead a few weeks before the race. She is running this year with her daughters and was the starter for the elite field.
There was a feeling that we were going to do this. No one can quit. She said at the starting line that there were eyes on them. We felt the pressure but also the chance to finish the marathon.
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