The men’s race at the Boston Marathon on Monday was decided by two seconds, while the women’s winner ran away from the field.

Lawrence Cherono of Kenya and Lelisa Desisa of Ethiopia, last year’s winner at the New York City Marathon, battled to the tape, bumping into each other at least once. It was Cherono who came out on top, with Desisa a stride behind. Kenneth Kipkemoi, another Kenyan who had been with them until the last few hundred yards, was third, nine seconds back.

Cherono, winner of the Amsterdam Marathon last year, finished in 2 hours 7 minutes 57 seconds. He has also won marathons in Honolulu, Prague and Seville, but never one of the majors. The top American was Scott Fauble, in seventh.