CHICAGO, Oct 13: Kenyan Evans Cheruiyot won the Chicago Marathon on Sunday for his second successive victory since moving up to the distance last year, while Russia’s Lidiya Grigoryeva claimed the women’s title also on her Chicago debut.

Cheruiyot, 26, finished in a personal best time of two hours, six minutes and 25 seconds after breaking away from fellow countryman David Mandago about a mile before the finish line.

Grigoryeva, 34, finished in 2:27:17, over two minutes ahead of fellow Russian Alevtina Biktimirova in second place.

Running in only his second marathon, Cheruiyot shaved nearly three minutes off the time he set when winning on his debut in Milan last December.

Mandago, who at one point late in the race led Cheruiyot by several metres, finished second in a time of 2:07:37. Kenya’s Timothy Cherigat took third place in 2:11:39. Kenyan men have taken top honours in the Chicago race for six successive years.

Grigoryeva finished a comfortable distance ahead of Biktimirova who came home in a time of 2:29:32.

Nearly 45,000 runners participated in the event.

Leading results:

Men’s: 1. Evans Kiprop Cheruiyot (Kenya) two hours 06 minutes 25 seconds; 2. David Mandago Kipkorir (Kenya) 2:07:37; 3. Timothy Cherigat (Kenya) 2:11:39; 4. Wesley Korir (Kenya) 2:13:53; 5. Martin Lauret (Netherlands) 2:15:10; 6. Emmanuel Mutai (Kenya) 2:15:36; 7. Mike Reneau (US) 2:16:20; 8. William Kipsang (Kenya) 2:16:41; 9. Daniel Njenga (Kenya) 2:17:33; 10. Richard Limo (Kenya) 2:18:48

Women’s: 1. Lidiya Grigoryeva (Russia) 2:27:17; 2. Alevtina Biktimirova (Russia) 2:29:32; 3. Kiyoko Shimahara (Japan) 2:30:19; 4. Constantina Tomescu (Romania) 2:30:57; 5. Desiree Davila (US) 2:31:33; 6. Colleen De Reuck (US) 2:32:25; 7. Bezunesh Bekele (Ethiopia) 2:32:41; 8. Paige Higgins (US) 2:33:06; 9. Kate O’Neill (US) 2:34:04; 10. Berhane Adere (Ethiopia) 2:34:16.—Reuters