Worknesh Degefa runs away from the 2019 Boston Marathon field

Worknesh Degefa of Ethiopia ran away from the women’s field on Monday morning in Boston. The Ethiopian runner started gapping the field through 10K and grew the lead from there. She finished in 2:23:31.

Degefa putting more daylight between herself and the pack. 30 second lead approaching 15km #BostonMarathon pic.twitter.com/5k6QJfgxmD

— Canadian Running (@CanadianRunning) April 15, 2019

Second place went to Edna Kiplagat of Kenya in 2:24:14 and third place to American Jordan Hasay in 2:25:20. At age 39, Kiplagat’s race for second place was almost equally as impressive as Degefa’s. After the champion broke the field, Kiplagat slowly worked her way up, steadily narrowing the lead. Kiplagat was the 2017 Boston champion.

https://twitter.com/mariofraioli/status/1117794346739404800

With only one mile to go, Kiplagat had shrunk the lead down to 300m but Degefa was too far gone. No woman has ever taken the lead and maintained it like the Ethiopian did today. Boston is a gruelling course and her dominance on Monday is truly unprecedented. Degefa ran her marathon personal best of 2:17:41 this January in Dubai, and came into the race as a favourite to win.

ELITE WOMEN | @JordanHasay comes home in 3rd, her 3rd third place in an #AbbottWMM race ??? pic.twitter.com/CcfkB3qjZs

— Abbott WMMajors (@WMMajors) April 15, 2019

RELATED: Why we love Dubai Marathon women’s champion Worknesh Degefa

Hasay also ran an extremely impressive race. After dropping out only one day before the 2018 Boston Marathon due to injury, she came back in 2019 fit and ready to run. Des Linden, fellow American and the 2018 defending champion, finished in fifth in 2:27:00.