Diana Kipyokei of Kenya is the Women's winner of the 2021 Boston MarathonPhoto: Kim Tunnicliffe/WBZ NewsRadio
BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — The 125th Boston Marathon Women's Elite title was won by newcomer Diana Kipyokei of Kenya, as the race from Hopkinton to the Back Bay returned for the first time since April 2019.
This was Kipyokei's first time competing in Boston or any other world-scale marathon, a major accomplishment. She finished with a time of 2:24:45, breaking away from the pack around the start of the Newton Hills.
Both second and third place were won by Kenyan runners. Edna Kiplagat finished at 2:25:09, and Mary Ngugi came in third, with a time of 2:25:20.
The highest ranking American runner was Nell Rojas of Boulder, Colorado, who finished in sixth at 2:27:12.
With the men's title going to Benson Kipruto of Kenya, ESPN reports this is the eighth Kenyan sweep at the Boston Marathon since 2000, with runners from Kenya securing both elite titles.
Monday's Boston Marathon was the first in-person on the usual route in more than two years, as last year's was held virtually because of the pandemic.
The Women's Boston Marathon record is 2:19:59, set by Ethiopian runner Buzunesh Deba in 2014.
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