Lawrence Cherono wins the Boston Marathon

Lawrence Cherono of Kenya overcame Ethiopa's Lelisa Desisa in the closing stages to win the Boston Marathon on Monday.

Cherono crossed the finish line in an unofficial time of 2 hours, 7 minutes and 57 seconds on Monday. That was just ahead of Desisa, the 2015 champion, who came in at 2:07:59.

The two-second margin marked the closest finish since 2000 and a tie for third-closest in the race's 123-year history.

Kenneth Kipkemoi of Kenya was third in 2:08:06. Felix Kandi of Kenya was fourth and 2017 champion Geoffrey Kirui was fifth.

It was the Boston debut of six-marathon winner Cherono, who most recently won the 2018 Amsterdam Marathon.

Cherono, Desisa and Kipkemoi separated during Mile 24 and were shoulder to shoulder going into the final mile. They stayed like that until Cherono and Desisa made a two-man race with about 200 meters to go.

Desisa took the lead and surged to victory before Cherono got on the left shoulder and survived the tape.

The morning rain stopped at the start of the race this year, with a temperature of 59 degrees. Last year's race was run in the rain, with temperatures dropping into the 30s.

North American Scott Fauble led the race around Mile 18, but began to fade at Mile 21. He finished seventh, in a time of 2:09:10.

Ethiopia's Degefa wins women's division

Ethiopia's Worknesh Degefa broke away from the rest of the field early and ran alone for the final 20 miles to win the women's Boston Marathon on Monday.

Degefa crossed the finish line in Boston's Back Bay in an unofficial time of 2 hours, 23 minutes and 30 seconds.

She is the eighth Ethiopian woman to win the race and the third in seven years.

It is his first major marathon victory. She won the Dubai Marathon in 2017, setting an Ethiopian national record in the process.

A half marathon specialist, Degefa opened up a 20-second lead at Mile 7. It increased to more than three minutes at the halfway point.