Cherono’s hopes dashed after Boston Marathon is cancelled

Kenya’s Lawrence Cherono will not defend his Boston Marathon title after the organizers of this year’s edition announced its cancellation.

The marathon has been cancelled for the first time in its 124-year history because of the on-going coronavirus pandemic.

The race had initially been postponed from 20 April to 14 September.

However, Boston mayor Marty Walsh said the race could not be held in 2019 because of public health fears.

The event is the longest-running major annual marathon in the world, having been held every year since 1897.

Kenya’s Lawrence Cherono and Worknesh Degefa of Ethiopia won the men and women’s races in 2019.