BOSTON, United States, April 15 (Xinhua) -- In the closest finish in the men's race since 1988, Lawrence Cherono of Kenya won the 123rd Boston Marathon here on Monday in two hours seven minutes and 57 seconds, beating two-time champion Lelisa Desisa of Ethiopia to the second place by only two seconds.

The 30-year-old Cherono, making his Boston Marathon debut, dramatically overtook Desisa to break the tape just a few steps away from the finish line.

"I kept on focusing. And at the end, I was the winner. I'm so grateful, so happy," said Cherono, who had won in Seville, Prague, Honolulu and twice in Amsterdam but never in a major marathon before.

Kenneth Kipkemoi, also from Kenya, finished third in 2:08:07.

The top 10 witnessed seven Kenyans, one Ethiopian, and two Americans -- Scott Fauble and Jared Ward, who finished seventh and eighth respectively. Enditem