BOSTON, April 18: Kenya's Robert Cheruiyot set a course record on the way to winning his second Boston Marathon on Monday, while compatriot Rita Jeptoo strode to victory in the women's race (partly reported in Tuesday’s edition).

2003 champion Cheruiyot, facing the largest field of top U.S. runners in more than two decades, pulled ahead in the latter stages to overtake fellow Kenyan Benjamin Maiyo and American Meb Keflezighi, lowering the course record by a second.

Cheruiyot claimed the $100,000 winner's prize and another $25,000 for setting the record.

It was the 14th time in the last 16 years that a Kenyan has won the world's oldest annually contested marathon.

The 27-year-old finished the 110th edition in an official time of two hours, seven minutes and 14 seconds, beating the previous record set by fellow Kenyan Cosmas Ndeti in 1994.

Kenya's Maiyo finished second in 2:08:21 and Keflezighi, who was born in Eritrea, third in 2:09:56 — the fastest time for an American in 21 years. Americans Brian Sell finished in fourth place and Alan Culpepper in fifth.

It was the first time three Americans have finished in the top five since 1985. No American has won the race since Greg Myer in 1983.

In the women's field, Jeptoo overtook last year's New York City Marathon winner Jelena Prokopcuka of Latvia and Reiko Tosa of Japan who dominated the first half of the race.

Results:

Men’s: 1. Robert Cheruiyot (Kenya) 2:07:14; 2. Benjamin Maiyo (Kenya) 2:08:21; 3. Mebrahtom Keflezighi (US) 2:09:56; 4. Brian Sell (US) 2:10:55; 5. Alan Culpepper (US) 2:11:02; 6. Kenjiro Jitsui (Japan) 2:11:32; 7. Peter Gilmore (US) 2:12:45; 8. William Kiplagat (Kenya) 2:13:26; 9. Wilson Onsare (Kenya) 2:13:47; 10. Clint Verran (US) 2:14:12.

Women’s: 1. Rita Sitienei Jeptoo (Kenya) 2:23:38; 2. Jelena Prokopcuka (Latvia) 2:23:48; 3. Reiko Tosa (Japan) 2:24:11; 4. Bruna Genovese (Italy) 2:25:28; 5. Kiyoko Shimahara (Japan) 2:26:52; 6. Alevtina Biktimirova (Russia) 2:26:58; 7. Olivera Jevtic (Serbia and Montenegro) 2:29:38; 8. Madina Biktagirova (Russia) 2:30:06; 9. Olesya Nurgalieva (Russia) 2:30:16; 10. Zivile Balciuenaite (Lithuania) 2:32:16.—Reuters