Moses Tanui won the 100th Boston Marathon yesterday, leading a Kenyan sweep of the top three places but dashing Cosmas Ndeti's dream of marking the historic occasion with a record fourth consecutive victory.

Tanui held off compatriot Sammy Bitok to win in two hours, nine minutes and 16 seconds. Ndeti, who boldly predicted a fourth successive victory before the race, came in third.

In the women's race, Ufa Pippig of Germany overtook Kenya's Tegla Loroupe with just a mile to go to capture her record third consecutive Boston victory in 2:27:12.

Pippig is the first woman to win Boston three years in a row since women were officially allowed in the race in 1972.