Robert Kiprono Cheruiyot won yesterday’s 114th Boston Marathon in a course record 2:05.52 — his first Boston victory, not his fifth.
The 21-year-old is not related to four-time champ Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot, who set the previous course record (2:07:14) in 2006.
“Most of the people already confuse me with Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot,” the Kenyan said. “With me and Robert, we talk the same language, but in different stripes. I think people can see me and they can see him and compare.”
Tekeste Kebede of Ethiopia was second, followed by Deriba Merga and Americans Ryan Hall and Meb Keflezighi.
Two months ago, the elder Cheruiyot advised his younger namesake to stay with the group early and make his move when the front-runners fall back. That advice resulted in Kenya’s 18th men’s victory in 20 years.
Kiprono Cheruiyot pushed ahead in the Newton Hills before shedding defending champion Merga at Coolidge Corner with 2 miles left.
In the third-closest women’s finish in event history, Teyba Erkesso of Ethiopia held off Tatyana Pushkareva of Russia by three seconds. Defending champion Salina Kosgei of Kenya was third.
