"Today was a tough day for me"- Eliud Kipchoge speaks after Boston disappointment

Marathon great Eliud Kipchoge has spoken about his performance at the 2023 Boston Marathon in which he finished a distant sixth. 

In a statement issued on Monday night, just a few hours after the race, Kipchoge described the day as "tough", saying he pushed himself as "hard as I could."

His Kenyan compatriot Evans Chebet, defending champion, won the race in 2:05:54. Kipchoge, who is the World record holder lost his momentum around the halfway mark. He was undoubtedly among the biggest attractions at the World Marathon Major. 

"I live for the moments where I get to challenge the limits. It’s never guaranteed, it’s never easy. Today was a tough day for me. I pushed myself as hard as I could but sometimes, we must accept that today wasn’t the day to push the barrier to a greater height," he said.

"I want to congratulate my competitors and thank everyone in Boston and from home for the incredible support I am so humbled to receive. In sports you win and you lose and there is always tomorrow to set a new challenge. Excited for what’s ahead," Kipchoge added. 

Tanzania's Gabriel Geay finished 10 seconds behind Chebet while Benson Kipruto- another Kenyan and 2021 champion, took third spot in 2:06:06.

Chebet, who also won in New York last year, made his break after the 35km mark but Geay refused to go down without a fight, and Kipruto caught up by 40km to make it a three-man race. 

But with a mile to go Chebet had established an unassailable lead and was all on his own as he crossed the finish to roars from the crowd, becoming the first man since 2008 to retain his Boston crown.

Meanwhile, Hellen Obiri won the women's race in 2:21:38. Running her second marathon, Obiri hung in with a tightly packed lead group for the entire race before breaking away with a mile to go to roars of approval from the Boston fans.

Ethiopian Amane Beriso, a favourite after producing the all-time third-fastest marathon in Valencia late last year, was unable to find her kick and could only watch helplessly as Obiri zoomed past. She finished 12 seconds behind.

Israeli Lonah Salpeter, who claimed bronze at the World Championships last year, survived a duel for third in 2:21:57, keeping Ethiopian Ababel Yeshaneh off the podium.