BOSTON, April 15 (UPI) -- Margaret Okayo, one of the hottest women marathoners in the world, led Kenya to dominating one-two victories in both the men's and women's divisions with a record-setting performance Monday in the 106th running of the Boston Marathon.
Okayo, 25, pulled away from two-time defending champion Catherine Ndereba in the final miles to win in 2:20:42, beating the previous record of 2:21:45 set in 1994 by Germany's Uta Pippig.
Under perfect running conditions of overcast skies and temperatures in the 50s, Okayo won her fourth marathon in six tries, adding Boston to her record-setting victory in the New York Marathon.
The men's race also featured a duel between Kenyans, who until last year had won 10 Boston Marathons in a row.
Rogers Rop, 29, returned Kenya to the winner's circle by pulling away from countryman Christopher Cherboiboch, 25, in the final miles.
Lee Bon Ju of Korea, who last year broke the Kenyans' victory streak in Boston, fell back from the lead pack of five runners -- all Kenyans -- with about six miles to go.
Under heavy security, more than 17,000 official entrants took part in the 26.2-mile run from Hopkinton to Boston, the third largest field for the famed event.
The men's and women's open winners each get $80,000, but Okayo and Ndereba both earned a $25,000 bonus by besting the course record.
South African Ernst Van Dyk, 28, dominated the field to win his second straight men's wheelchair division race at Boston in an unofficial time of 1:23:19. Van Dyk, earning $10,000, moved out in front early and was never challenged by runner-ups American Krige Schabort or Franz Nietlispach of Switzerland.
Edith Hunkeler, 29, of Switzerland, also earned $10,000 with her victory in women's wheelchair division in an unofficial time of 1:45:57. Hunkeler, who came in second last year, held off a challenge from American Christina Ripp, 21, and Wakako Tsuchida, 27 of Japan.
