took their leads early — Romanchuk at 10 miles; Schär from the outset — and won by large margins.

The women’s race began around 15K, when a quartet of Jepchirchir, Yeshaneh, 2021 London Marathon winner Joyciline Jepkosgei and Degitu Azimeraw broke away from the pack, running on a pace to break the course record of 2:19:59. Azimeraw’s personal best of 2:17:58 made her the third-fastest woman in the field behind only Jepchirchir and Jepkosgei, but she wasn’t able to hang on for long. The remaining trio — all former world record-holders in the half marathon — ran together until Mile 23, when Jepkosgei would fall back.

Now there were two. For a moment, it appeared that Yeshaneh would pull away, but Jepchirchir bore down to regain the lead. Yeshaneh retook it.

“I knew I was going to win the race at 40 kilometers, when I tried the first time and she caught me,” said Jepchirchir. “But I knew then that I was stronger than her.”

So she blasted ahead in Kenmore Square with a mile to go. Still, remarkably, the race wasn’t over: Yeshaneh surged ahead again and seemed to be taking control until Jepchirchir slipped past on the inside as the pair turned onto Hereford Street. The duo traded leads all down the 631 yards of Boylston Street before Jepchirchir took command in the final meters.

Asked if this was the hardest-fought victory of her career, Jepchirchir nodded. “I can say that this was a di cult race for me. I came to realize, Boston is Boston. It’s a tough course.”

The next morning, asked how she was feeling, she added, “A marathon is a marathon. I am feeling pain … happy.”

Finishing third was Kenya’s Mary Ngugi, in 2:21:32, a personal best by almost four minutes over her third-place time here last fall. Placing fourth — and smashing the masters course record she set last year — was 42-year-old Edna Kiplagat in 2:21:40. Top American for the second-consecutive year was Nell Rojas in a personal best 2:25:57, finishing 10th.

Peres Jepchirchir (right) bid her time as Americans Stephanie Bruce and Molly Seidel took turns leading the pack early in the race.

To everyone who crossed the finish line in Boston on Monday, YOU are so important to our sport and community! Your dedication and passion can bring you anywhere you want to go! Big congrats! – Nell Rojas, 2:25:57, 10th place and top American