“It was a mutual agreement that we would keep pace together,” said Chebet afterward, when asked about his race tactics alongside Kipruto. “And this is what worked out well.”

Geay would go on to finish as runner-up in 2:06:04, with Kipruto a close third right behind, in 2:06:06, completing an adidas sweep up front. Top American honors went to Scott Fauble, seventh in 2:09:44. Chebet’s 2:05:54 was the third-fastest winning time in race history.

For the women, the pack numbered 10 through most of the Newton Hills, with Emma Bates largely controlling the pace. The 30-year-old American, who finished seventh in the 2022 World Athletics Championships but was making her Boston debut, was leading at mile 23, when Lonah Salpeter of Israel briefly took over.

But coming out of Kenmore Square, Obiri’s stride got longer with every step, charging up Hereford Street and down Boylston Street to win in the fourth-fastest time in race history.

Asked what she learned from her debut at the distance in the TCS New York City Marathon last fall, where she finished a disappointing sixth, Obiri said, “After New York we learned some things we did not know. I learned to be patient.”

Finishing second was Amane Beriso of Ethiopia, in 2:21:50, with Salpeter third in 2:21:57. Bates finished as top American in fifth, 2:22:10, the second-fastest time ever by an American woman on the course.

In the wheelchair races, Scaroni overcame a loose wheel in the eighth mile that forced her to pull over for a quick repair. But she had already built up a cushion that allowed her to keep her lead, and she would go on to finish five minutes ahead of runner-up Madison de Rozario of Australia, who crossed the line in 1:46:45. In third was 48-year-old Wakako Tsuchida of Japan, in 1:47:04, who won here five consecutive years from 2007-2011.

Four-time winner and defending champion Manuela Schär dropped out after 30K with a flat tire.

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“It was pretty emotional," Scaroni said when asked about winning in her ninth Boston appearance. "I always give everything I have and I know everyone else is doing so also. So, this is extra special.”

As usual for the downhill specialist, Hug went out fast from the start with eyes set on the course record and a sixth title. The “Swiss Silver Bullet” built his lead at halfway to 4:39, then had more than a ten minute gap on the field by the finish. Daniel Romanchuk took second in 1:27:45 while Jetze Plat of the Netherlands earned his first Boston podium, third in 1:28:35.

“I’m just so, so happy with the race today,” Hug said. He now owns the three of the top four fastest wheelchair times in race history. “It’s incredible in these conditions, with headwinds, crosswinds, rain, to do a time like this. For me, it’s incredible.”

Barbara Huebner, a former reporter for the Boston Globe, has been writing about the Boston Marathon for almost 30 years.

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