Hellen Obiri of Kenya surged to a stunning victory in the women's race at the Boston Marathon on Monday, defeating Amane Beriso in a thrilling final duel to win the title in only her second race over the distance.

Obiri, a two-time world 5,000m champion, finished in 2hr 21min 38sec, holding off Ethiopia's Beriso throughout the final mile.

PHOTO | COURTESY Hellen Obiri wins Boston marathon

In a race decided in the final few minutes, Obiri defeated one of the most significant women's fields ever put together for the Boston Marathon.

Unlike the men's race, the women's race began slowly and steadily and gradually picked up as the race went on. A large lead of more than 20 racers passed through 10 kilometres in 34:46, but by the halfway point, reached in 1:11:29, they had been reduced to 11 competitors.

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At this time, the lead pack included Obiri, world marathon champion Gotytom Gebreslase, Amsterdam course record-holder Angela Tanui, 2020 Tokyo champion Lonah Salpeter, Ethiopian record-holder Amane Beriso, Eritrean record-holder Nazret Weldu, and 2021 London champion Joyciline Jepkosgei.

With five miles to go, Gebreslase and Weldu had dropped out of the lead pack, which had been reduced to only six women at 23 miles: Obiri leading, Salpeter, Beriso, Jepkosgei, Ethiopia's Ababel Yeshaneh, and USA's Emma Bates.

PHOTO | COURTESY Hellen Obiri wins Boston marathon

Jepkosgei and Bates began to falter in the final few miles, while Yeshaneh stumbled and fell, only to quickly rejoin the lead pack. Salpeter was next, leaving only Obiri, Beriso, and Yeshaneh to fight for the win.

Obiri and Beriso had broken away from Yeshaneh at 2:17 p.m. Obiri took off on a long drive for the finish line some 90 seconds later. With intermittent glances over her shoulder, the Olympic silver medalist kept a healthy lead over the competition.

Eliud kipchoge, on the other hand, did not have a good run as he came in 6th in the men's race. Recording 2:09:23 in a race won by countryman and defending champion Evans Chebet, who ran 2:05:54.

Kipchoge will also have to wait at least another year to complete his ambition to win all six world marathon majors, with only the Boston and New York City Marathons remaining.