Kenya’s Cheruiyot breaks Boston record

Robert Kiprono Cheruiyot broke the Boston Marathon record on Monday, cruising to the finish in 2:05:51.

He shattered the previous course record, set in 2006 by Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot (not related), by 82 seconds.

The 2010 champion wins the $150,000 first prize and an extra $25,000 for setting the course record.

Ethiopia’s Teyba Erkesso took the women’s title, hanging on for victory over Russia’s Tatyana Pushkareva.

Erkesso finished in 2:26:11, just three seconds ahead of Pushkareva.

Cheruiyot’s victory gave Kenya its 18th win in the past 20 years. He finished a minute and a half ahead of Ethiopia’s Tekeste Kebede. Defending champion Deriba Merga was third.

Americans Ryan Hall and Meb Keflezighi followed in fourth and fifth.

The race was run in pleasant conditions around 9 C, but there was a headwind of about 21 km/h.

Two Nova Scotians were the top Canadian male and female runners.

Rami Bardeesy, 41, of Halifax was the top Canadian in a personal-best 2:27:22, good for third place in the men’s masters category and 48th overall (46th among men).

Denise Robson of Dartmouth was Canada’s top woman in 2:43:16. She was 24th among the overall women, and also won $10,000 for winning her age class (40-44 masters).

Canadian Diane Roy finished second in the women’s wheelchair race in 1:47:08.

Also, Canadian Running editor-in-chief Michal Kapral had a solid run, with a time of 2:41:59, for 254th overall, and eighth among Canadians.