Kenyan runners are home away from home in Boston again

Joseph Chebet, a runner-up in his previous three marathons, ended his string of second-place finishes by winning yesterday's race in 2 hours, 9 minutes, 52 seconds.

Chebet became the ninth straight Kenyan champion, equaling the race record set by U.S. runners between 1916-25 at a time when few foreigners entered the race. There was no individual competition in 1918, only a team race.

''Everybody in the world is trying to catch the Kenyans, but they can't,'' Chebet said.

The smooth-gliding Roba, the 1996 Olympic gold medalist, eased to victory at 2:23:25, matching the three consecutive titles won by Germany's Uta Pippig from 1994-96. They are the only two to win three in a row since women officially became part of the race in 1994.

While Chebet and Roba overwhelmed their opposition, two crowd favorites - defending champion Moses Tanui of Kenya and four-time champion Bill Rodgers - did not finish.

Tanui, also the champion in the race's centennial year in 1996, apparently was bothered by leg cramps and dropped out near the 23-mile mark. Rodgers, seeking to break the course record for over-50 by an American, dropped out shortly before the 21-mile mark because of dehydration.

''I can run the race,'' the 51-year-old Rodgers said, ''but I can't push hard for records. I have to run more carefully, then I'll finish.''

Another popular New Englander, Lynn Jennings, was 12th among the women in her first official marathon at 2:38:37.

Jennings, 38, had run the marathon as an unofficial competitor in 1978 when she was a 17-year-old high school senior and ran about 2:46, a time that would have placed her third.

04-20-99