Boston Marathon: The Other Robert Cheruiyot Wins 114th Running, Teyba Erkesso Is Fastest Woman

Robert Cheruiyot -- no, not that Robert Cheruiyot -- has won the 114th running of the Boston Marathon.

Cheruiyot, a 21-year old Kenyan who finished fifth in this race a year ago, began pulling away at the 23rd mile and pushed himself to a 2:05:52 time, the fastest Boston Marathon. Ever. It shattered the previous course record of 2:07:14. That’s a pace of 4:48 per mile, if you were curious. For his efforts, Cheruiyot will receive a prize of $150, 000.

Teyba Erkess, who tore away from the women’s field in the hills of Newtown, was challenged in the final mile by Russian Tatyana Pushkarev, but the Ethiopian managed to hang on for the win, taking first place by just four seconds.

Ryan Hall and Meb Keflezighi, a pair of American runners who were seen as legitimate threats to breaking the ribbon, finished fourth and fifth, respectively.

Brave? Foolish? Arrogant? Ignorant? All are appropriate words to describe Ryan Hall’s race this year. In 2009, Hall tore out from the start, leading for much of the early parts of the run, before slowing and falling off the lead in the Newton Hills (though he’d eventually gut his way back among the leaders for a third place finish). This year, he did it again, and was the leader at the halfway point before fading as far back as 9th at the 25 km mark.

But still, Hall’s time of 2:08:41 was the fastest ever American finish in Boston. That should give a good idea of just how quick this year’s marathon was.