Results Boston Marathon 2022 • [+ Photos]

The Boston Marathon celebrated a very special anniversary on April 18, 2022.

For the 50th time, women were officially allowed to take part in the marathon from Hopkinton to Boston. For this purpose, the best female runners in the world were invited to attack the eight-year-old course record.

Boston debut for top female runners

In addition to the Olympic marathon champion, last year's fastest female marathon runner also lined up at the start of the 2022 Boston Marathon. These two ladies were, of course, also the top favorites this year. For both Olympic marathon champion Peres Jepchirchir and Joyciline Jepkosgei, it was their first marathon start in Hopkinton.

Jepchirchir vs. Jepkosgei

Jepkosgei triumphed last year at the London Marathon with an impressive 2:17:43. This pushed the former half marathon world record holder to 7th place in the perpetual marathon world best list. Peres Jepchirchir ran even faster in 2020 at the Valencia Marathon, where she triumphed with a time of 2:17:16 hours. In addition, Jepchirchir won four marathons in a row: 2019 in Saitama (Japan), 2020 in Valencia, 2021 in Sapporo and New York. Accordingly, the 28-year-old Kenyan was slight favorite against her teammate of the same age. The course record of Bizunesh Deba (Ethiopia), who ran a time of 2:19:59 in 2014, was also a target for the two world-class runners.

Ethiopian power and strong US runners

Another co-favorite was Ethiopia's Degitu Azimeraw, four, who also traveled to the U.S. with a personal best under 2:20 hours. For the host country, Olympic medalist Molly Seidel was hoping for a top finish. Boston 2018 winner Desiree Linden were also at the start. Sara Hall, on the other hand, canceled at short notice.

Celebrity cancellation

The elite field in the men's race was similarly high-class. Kenenisa Bekele, the second-fastest marathon runner of all time, had originally confirmed his participation. The runner from Ethiopia wanted to run his last marathon in Boston before his 40th birthday. His best time of 2:01:41 is more than a minute off the 11-year-old course record set by Geoffrey Kiprono Mutai, who won in 2011 with a time of 2:03:02. Two weeks before the Boston Marathon, however, Bekele announced his cancellation for the race.

With Evans Chebet and Lawrence Cherono at least two Kenyans were at the start who hold best times in the range of the course record. They were joined by Birhanu Legese, who is the fourth fastest marathoner of all time with a best time of 2:02:48.

Many Boston Marathon winners at the start

There was no clear top favorite in the men's race, however. Former half marathon world record holder Geoffrey Kamworor was also a hot candidate for victory. In addition, with Benson Kipruto (Boston winner 2021), Lawrence Cherono (winner 2019), Yuki Kawauchi (2018), Geoffrey Kirui (2017), Lemi Berhanu (2016) and Lelisa Desisa (2013 and 2015), the last six winners of the Boston Marathon were also on the start list in 2022.

Men's result: Evans Chebet triumphs after tactical race

With Evans Chebet one of the top favorites could win the race. Until about 10 kilometers before the finish, the leading group consisted of 15 men. In this group, as in the previous year, the US runner Cj Albertson set the pace for the most part. After that Chebet increased the pace. Only Gabriel Geay from Tanzania was able to follow at the beginning. But even he had to let Chebet go a good five kilometers before the finish.

Fastest Boston time since 2011

With a time of 2:06:51, Chebet from Kenya finished ahead of his compatriot Lawrence Cherono. It was the same result as at the Valencia Marathon 2020, where Chebet also won ahead of Cherono. Chebet has also won four of his last five marathon races. However, it was his first win in Boston after he was forced to retire early in 2018 in his only start to date in Hopkinton. In addition, the 33-year-old's third-fastest Boston winning time marked the first time he has won a World Marathon Majors race. It was also the fastest marathon time in Boston since 2011.

Rounding out the podium was Benson Kipruto, another runner from Kenya.

Strong performance by US runners

Gabriel Geay from Tanzania followed behind. The best runner from the USA was not Cj Albertson, but Scott Fauble, who was the best non-African after a sensational catch-up with a personal best of 2:08:52 hours in seventh place. Elkanah Kibet (2:09:07 hours) was another US runner to make it into the top 10, while Cj Albertson still ran a personal best of 2:10:23 hours to finish 13th.

Women: Olympic champion Jepchirchir wins marathon thriller

The decision in the women's race was exciting until the very last meter. The trio of Peres Jepchirchir, Joyciline Jepkosgei and Ababel Yeshaneh was even on course for the course record for a long time.

Third attack led to victory

Jepkosgei had to let the duo go after a good 35 kilometers. After that, an exciting duel developed between Jepchirchir and Yeshaneh. In the last mile, Olympic champion Jepchirchir tried to break away three times from former half marathon world record holder Yeshaneh, who made the fresher impression. But Yeshaneh could not follow the last attack 300 meters before the finish.

Great winning streak for Jepchirchir

For Jepchirchir, it was her first victory in her first start at the Boston Marathon. The 28-year-old also won three major races in eight months, the Olympic Marathon, the New York City Marathon and the Boston Marathon. The time of 2:21:01, like the men's race, was the third-fastest winning time in Boston Marathon history. Over the marathon distance, she has won all of her starts since 2019. It was her 5th consecutive marathon win.

She was followed four seconds behind by Ethiopia's Ababel Yeshaneh, who was the only non-Kenyan in the top 7. Mary Ngugi completed the podium. Co-favorite Joyciline Jepkosgei was pushed through to 7th place.

Strong British woman

The best non-African in 9th place was Charlotte Purdue of Great Britain with 2:25:26 hours. Right behind her was US runner Rojas Nell with 2:25:57 hours.

Boston Marathon 2022 Results ➤ Women

Results Boston Marathon 2022 ➤ Men

All results and pictures from Boston Marathon