HOPKINTON-TO-BOSTON, April 18 — Three years removed from the last Patriots’ Day marathon and 6 months following the delayed ’21 race, the 2022 Boston Marathon returned to the third Monday in April where history began in 1897.
Not surprisingly, Kenyans dominated on a glorious spring day in Beantown that featured a field of more than 25,000 as spectators flooded every mile of the route.
Evans Chebet (2:06:51) led the way in the men’s field. The 33-year-old Kenyan posted the eighth-fastest performance ever on the course as he took the lead from a group of 15 at 35K and stormed the final 7 kilometers, leaving the chase pack in his wake.
“At the beginning I was not confident,” he said. “I didn’t know I would come out as the winner. I am really thrilled that today I became the winner. When I went to London, I came out 4th [’21] and in Tokyo I came 4th. Today I am really happy that I came out on top.”
Between 35 and 40 kilometers he tossed in a 13:55 split. For miles 22–25 he posted increments of 4:27, 4:27, 4:26 and 4:38.
He and his countrymen took 5 of the top 6 spots. Chebet, who has a PR of 2:05:31 from Berlin ’16, had earlier failed to finish in his first attempt at Boston in that same year. Chebet’s teammates grabbed the next two spots with Lawrence Cherono (2:07:21), the ’19 Boston and Chicago winner, holding off Benson Kipruto (2:07:27), the ’21 Boston champion.
Commenting on his runner-up finish, Cherono noted, “First of all I am happy to be on the podium in the 2022 Boston Marathon,” he said. “I am happy. I think I prepared well despite I didn’t win. I give credit to my friend, Evans Chebet, for winning. I am so happy. So, I am grateful for being in position 2.”
Kipruto, winner here in ’21, was nonetheless pleased with his 3rd-place performance. “My training was so good and I am happy with the results. I am looking forward to continue racing in this marathon,” he said.
The lead pack was large from the start with 40 or so maintaining contact through 10K (29:38) and the half in 1:03:24, 88 seconds over course record pace. As he did last year, CJ Albertson did much of the leading in the early downhill portion of the course with the large pack in tow. Albertson, who was the first American here in ’21, could do no better than 3rd this year behind fellow Yanks Scott Fauble (7th in 2:08:52, the fastest U.S. time of the year) and Elkanah Kibet (9th in 2:09:07).
The pack of 15 steadily climbed the Newton Hills at 30K (1:30:59) with everyone just waiting for the first move. It came shortly after cresting the top of Heartbreak Hill. The duo of Chebet and Tanzania’s Gabriel Geay (4th) began a slight breakaway at that point. It didn’t last long as Chebet quickly moved into the lead with a noticeable surge, which included his 13:55 split from 35 to 40 kilometers.
Chebet was certainly not hanging on in the pack. When he picked his spot, it was lights-out for the field. Said Chebet, “I observed that my counterparts were nowhere close to me and that gave me the motivation and determination to hit it off and be the winner.”
BOSTON MARATHON MEN’S RESULTS
1. Evans Chebet (Ken) 2:06:51;
2. Lawrence Cherono (Ken) 2:07:21;
3. Benson Kipruto (Ken) 2:07:27;
4. Gabriel Gerald Geay (Tan) 2:07:53;
5. Erick Kiptanui (Ken) 2:08:47;
6. Albert Korir (Ken) 2:08:50;
7. Scott Fauble (US) 2:08:52 (aided AL) (a-c: 9, x A);
8. Jemal Yimer (Eth) 2:08:58; 9. Elkanah Kibet (US) 2:09:07; 10. Kinde Atanaw (Eth) 2:09:16; 11. Lemi Berhanu (Eth) 2:09:43; 12. Bethwel Yegon (Ken) 2:09:44; 13. CJ Albertson (US) 2:10:23; 14. Matt McDonald (US) 2:10:35;
15. Trevor Hofbauer (Can) 2:10:52; 16. Reed Fischer (US) 2:10:54; 17. Mick Iacofano (US) 2:11:48; 18. Geoffrey Kamworor (Ken) 2:11:49; 19. Colin Bennie (US) 2:12:08; 20. Yuki Kawauchi (Jpn) 2:12:55; 21. Mike Sayenko (US) 2:13:46;
22. Jerrell Mock (US) 2:14:10; 23. Jonas Hampton (US) 2:14:40; 24. Ian Butler (US) 2:14:48; 25. Paul Hogan (US) 2:15:08; 26. Jared Ward (US) 2:15:24; 27. Matt Llano (US) 2:16:39; 28. Nicolas Montañez (US) 2:19:23; 29. Tyler Pence (US) 2:19:39; 30. Daniel Ortiz (Mex) 2:24:26;… 34. Jake Riley (US) 2:30:48. ◻︎