The final minute of Monday’s Boston Marathon made me poop a little in my briefs, as Kenya’s Lawrence Cherono edged out Ethiopa’s Lelisa Desisa by two-tenths of a second in the closest marathon since 1988.
Cherono, who made his Boston Marathon debut, clocked a time of 2 hours, 7 minutes and 57 seconds to edge out Desisa, a two-time winner of the Boston Marathon, who looked to have Cherono beat after he pulled away on Boylston Street. The two runners then engaged in a dead sprint in the final 200 meters, with Cherono squeaking by and adding a Boston Marathon victory to his five other marathon Ws, including the 2018 Amsterdam Marathon.
Check out the palm sweat-inducing scene below.
#BREAKING: Lawrence Cherono wins the men's Boston Marathon in a sprint. WHAT A FINISH! pic.twitter.com/uI1J6GjEC2
— WBZ | CBS News Boston (@wbz) April 15, 2019
“I was so focused, because I never win a major marathon. But to me, I was so determined, to win,” Cherono said, via the Boston Globe. “I’m so happy. I’m so grateful, so thankful to people of Boston. They were so amazing, they were cheerful until the end.”
A slow-mo version:
Lawrence Cherono just edges out Lelisa Desisa to win the 2019 @bostonmarathon !!!! What a finish 👀 #bostonmarathon pic.twitter.com/Ax1RdpWurH
— Kris and Mindy (@RaceEveryStep) April 15, 2019
This Darren Rovell fact is wild.
Today’s men’s Boston Marathon winner Lawrence Cherono finished the marathon in 2:07:57. Factoring for today’s wind and hills, it’s the equivalent of doing 12.3 on the treadmill on a 4 percent incline for 26.2 miles! pic.twitter.com/UXwv7xSsFP
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) April 15, 2019
The top American finisher was Scott Fauble, who was leading at mile 17 before losing some gas. He finished seventh, with a time of 2:09:10.
But, most importantly, this…
Spencer the golden retriever is back and sporting a new raincoat along the #BostonMarathon course.
Cheering on athletes despite the weather!
Video: Rich Powers/Henry Studio @wbz #BostonStrong pic.twitter.com/ARBDQhGU80
— Anaridis Rodriguez (@Anaridis) April 15, 2019
Good boy.