Sharon Lokedi's last kick earns her a record, halting Hellen Obiri's dominance

Sharon Lokedi ran into her mother's embrace after turning the tables on defending Boston Marathon champion Hellen Obiri to improve her silver from last year in a new 2:17:22 course record.

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Lokedi pulled away from the two-time defending champion in the last mile, after a close race for the better part of the second half, holding on for victory.

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She smashed the course record of 2:19:59 set by Ethiopian Buzunesh Deba in 2014.

Obiri, who crossed 19 seconds behind, in a PB as well, was bidding to become the first woman to three-peat in Boston since Fatuma Roba of Ethiopia from 1997 to 1999.

Yalemzerf Yehualaw of Ethiopia ran 2:18:06 in third.

"I'm always second to Hellen but today I said there's no way," Lokedi offered at the finish line. "I put it out there and I wanted to fight until the end. We all wanted it so bad."

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The lead group went off quick, hitting the 10 km mark in 32:51 with Rahman Tusa leading an East African field that had Amane Beriso, Obiri, Buze Diriba, Irene Cheptai and Lokedi as the American challengers were dropped early.

Soon it was down to five with Beriso and Cheptai hanging on to the eventual podium finishers.

The five passed through the halfway mark in 1:08:46. The race started to thin out in the hilly latter stages, eventually leaving only Lokedi and Obiri to battle for the victory.

“We went through halfway in 68 minutes and I thought, to my self that is so fast! We hadn’t got to the hills yet,” said Lokedi. “We just kept the pace honest, but I was worried we were going too fast.”