(CNN) The 123rd Boston Marathon almost needed a photo finish.

In the closest finish in the men's race since 1988, Kenya's Lawrence Cherono, making his Boston Marathon debut, held off two-time Boston Marathon champion Lelisa Desisa of Ethiopia to barely clip the finish line tape first. Cherono was two seconds ahead, in a time of 2:07:57. Right behind in third place was Kenneth Kipkemoi of Kenya, in 2:08:07.

#BREAKING: Lawrence Cherono wins the men's Boston Marathon in a sprint. WHAT A FINISH! pic.twitter.com/uI1J6GjEC2 — WBZ | CBS Boston News (@wbz) April 15, 2019

Desisa won this race in 2013 and 2015.

Scott Fauble and Jared Ward were the top-finishing American men, in seventh and eighth, respectively. The last American man to win in Boston was Meb Keflezighi, in 2014. He was the Grand Marshal for this year's race.

Worknesh Degefa of Ethiopia won the women's race, taking the lead at mile 4 and never relinquishing it. As she approached the finish line, she waved to the cheering crowd. Her time was 2:23:31.

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