BOSTON -- His name sounds like "chariot," and he certainly rolled through the streets of Boston, from Hopkinton to Heartbreak Hill.

Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot, 24, became the 12th Kenyan in 13 years to win the Boston Marathon on Monday, and his countrymen took the next four spots in the 107th running of the race.

With the top three finishers running for the first time in Boston, Kenyans seem poised to keep their grasp on the race.

"I was well-prepared," said Cheruiyot (pronounced cheh-REE-yot). "It is a marathon to make your name known in the world."

Svetlana Zakharova of Russia won the women's race to prevent a second consecutive Kenyan sweep. Marla Runyan, who is legally blind, was fifth -- the best finish for a U.S. runner since 1993.

The men's and women's winners in the field of 20,260 each won $80,000.

Cheruiyot pulled away from Timothy Cherigat at the 22-mile mark, led by 16 seconds with 11/2 miles left and won by 23 seconds over Benjamin Kosgei Kimutai. Cheruiyot finished in 2 hours, 10 minutes, 11 seconds.

"I like the way people make encouragement along the way," Cheruiyot said. "They are happy about Africans, and I like that very much."

Cheruiyot won his only other 26.2-mile race, in December in Milan, Italy, and primarily has competed in 10-kilometer (6.2-mile) races and half-marathons.

Martin Lel was third, Cherigat fourth and Christopher Cheboiboch fifth.

The first non-Kenyan to finish was Fedor Ryzhov, 43, of Russia, who came in sixth.

Eddy Hellebuyck, a native of Belgium who became a U.S. citizen in 1999, was the first American to finish, coming in 10th.

"It's disappointing," said Hellebuyck, who lives in New Mexico. "I'm representing the U.S., and I'm 42 years old. Where is everybody?"

Paul, Stephen and Jim Gidus of Central Florida became the first trio of brothers to finish the Boston Marathon, running together and finishing in 3:51:13.

Zakharova snapped Kenya's three-year winning streak as Russians took the top two women's spots.

"It's a difficult course," said Zakharova, whose time of 2:25:20 beat Lyubov Denisova of Russia by 1 minute, 31 seconds. "Russian women like to go through certain difficulties. Maybe that's the reason."

Kenyan women finished third and fourth -- Joyce Chepchumba and defending champion Margaret Okayo. Americans took three of the top 10 spots, including Runyan's fifth-place finish. Milena Glusac of Fallbrook, Calif., was eighth, and Jill Gaitenby of Providence, R.I., placed ninth.

Runyan trailed a bicyclist who provided her with her times at the checkpoints and guided her to water bottles.

"My greatest difficulty today was really physical," said Runyan, who felt a stitch in her side between miles 16 and 17. "I was changing my stride to alleviate that."

In the men's wheelchair competition, South African Ernst Van Dyk earned his third consecutive victory in 1:28:32. Krige Schabort, a South African who lives in Cedartown, Ga., was second in 1:30:07. Around mile 11, Schabort struck a 7-year-old girl who was trying to cross the course. The girl was treated at Metro West Medical Center and released.

Boston Marathon

Top 10 men's finishers: 1. Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot, Kenya, 2:10:11; 2. Benjamin Kosgei Kimutai, Kenya, 2:10:34; 3. Martin Lel, Kenya, 2:11:11; 4. Timothy Cherigat, Kenya, 2:11:28; 5. Christopher Cheboiboch, Kenya, 2:12:45; 6. Fedor Ryzhov, Russia, 2:15:29; 7. Rodgers Rop, Kenya, 2:16:14; 8. David Kiptum Busienei, Kenya, 2:16:16; 9. Elly K. Rono, Kenya, 2:17:00; 10. Eddy Hellebuyck, Albuquerque, N.M., 2:17:18.

Top 10 women's finishers: 1. Svetlana Zakharova, Russia, 2:25:20; 2. Lyubov Denisova, Russia, 2:26:51; 3. Joyce Chepchumba, Kenya, 2:27:20; 4. Margaret Okayo, Kenya, 2:27:39; 5. Marla Runyan, Eugene, Ore., 2:30:28; 6. Albina Ivanova, Russia, 2:30:57; 7. Firaya Sultanova-Zhdanova, Russia, 2:31:30; 8. Milena Glusac, Fallbrook, Calif., 2:37:32; 9. Jill Gaitenby, Providence, R.I., 2:38:19; 10. Esther Kiplagat, Kenya, 2:38:43.

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Gidus Brothers Note: Prior to running the Boston Marathon, the Gidus Brothers carried out research that led them to believe three brothers had never qualified for and completed the Boston Marathon together. However, in a letter to the editor of the Orlando Sentinel published several weeks after the marathon, it was pointed out that four brothers, one of whom resides in Central Florida, completed the Boston Marathon in 2000.

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