Evans Chebet upsets Eliud Kipchoge to win back-to-back Boston Marathon titles
Boston Marathon 2023 saw Evans Chebet claim his third consecutive marathon major title in wet conditions, becoming the sixth man to achieve consecutive Boston Marathon titles. The Kenyan athlete crossed the line in a winning time of 2:05:54, with Tanzania’s Gabriel Geay and Benson Kipruto claiming the silver and bronze medals, respectively. Meanwhile, Kenyan legend Eliud Kipchoge suffered his first defeat since 2020, finishing sixth on his debut at the Boston Marathon. Kipchoge looked set for another famous victory over the 42.2 km distance, which would have inched him closer to winning all six races in the World Marathon Majors series. However, a move by Geay with less than 10km to go proved consequential, with Kipchoge falling off the pace.
On the other hand, in the women’s race, fellow Kenyan Hellen Obiri added to her legend by claiming her first marathon title in only her second race over the distance. Obiri, a two-time Olympic 5,000m silver medallist, took the victory in a time of 2:21:38, demonstrating her temperament for big races. She took charge early on in the race and remained in striking distance, producing a final surge to beat Ethiopia’s Amane Beriso into second place. Reigning Olympic champion Lonah Salpeter of Israel claimed bronze.
Kipchoge, who last tasted defeat at the 2020 London Marathon, battled an ear blockage and finished eighth, which ended his winning streak of 10 races over the classic distance. However, he pushed himself as hard as he could during the Boston Marathon and congratulated his competitors, thanking everyone in Boston and from home for the incredible support he received.
“Today was a tough day for me. I pushed myself as hard as I could but sometimes, we must accept that today wasn’t the day to push the barrier to a greater height,” Kipchoge said in a statement on Instagram.
“I want to congratulate my competitors and thank everyone in Boston and from home for the incredible support I am so humbled to receive. In sports you win and you lose and there is always tomorrow to set a new challenge. Excited for what’s ahead.”
Chebet, the Boston Marathon 2023 men’s winner, also won the New York City Marathon (2:08:41) in 2022, while he also boasts victories in Valencia (2020), Lake Biwa (2020) and Buenos Aires (2019). He ran a measured race among the leading pack before he pounced over the final few hundred metres of the gruelling distance event. Chebet claimed his victory, hoping either of them in the team would win but did his best to defend his title. “I train with Benson; he is my friend and like a brother to me. With one kilometre to go, I said to him ‘let’s go’,” he said.
Obiri, who also won world championships in indoor track, outdoor track and cross-country, said, “In the middle of the race I had to be patient and had to wait for the right time. I knew I trained well, and today I can say it was my time.” Obiri’s dream debut in the marathon saw her join a large leading pack by the halfway mark, including defending world champion Gotytom Gebreslase of Ethiopia and reigning Olympic champion Lonah Salpeter of Israel. She remained in striking distance with less than two kilometres to go and produced a final surge to claim her first marathon title.
Overall, Boston Marathon 2023 showcased some of the best performances by elite athletes, with Chebet claiming his third consecutive marathon major title and Obiri claiming her first marathon title in only her second race over the distance. Despite Kipchoge’s defeat, he remained a legend and an inspiration to many athletes worldwide. The Boston Marathon was a testament to the power of hard work, perseverance, and passion for the sport.
