BOSTON -- The Kenyans dominated the 110th running of the Boston Marathon Monday, setting a new course record in the men's division.

Robert Cheruiyot, 27, crossed the finish line in 2:07:14 -- one second faster than the record set in 1994 by Cosmas Ndeti. Benjamin Maiyo came in second, and American Meb Keflezighi placed third, the highest finish by an American runner since 1983 when Greg Meyer placed first. The 2006 race also saw U.S. runners Brian Sell and Alan Culpepper come in third and fourth.

Kenya's Rita Jeptoo, 25, won the women's division with a time of 2:23:38. It was Jeptoo's first race in America.

"I am very happy. I finished very well, and I ran my best time," Jeptoo said. "I hope to come again, and I am happy because you have welcomed me to come here."

Jeptoo had about a 7-second lead on Latvia's Jelena Prokopcuka as the women turned onto Boylston Street. Prokopcuka finished second, and Reiko Tosa, of Japan, finished third. The 2005 women's champion Catherine Ndereba was absent from this year's race.

Defending Boston Marathon champion Ernst Van Dyk captured his sixth title, winning the men's wheelchair division with a time of 1:25:29.

"There is no such thing as an easy race," Van Dyk said. "It was pretty cold out there -- not so windy as we thought it would be. When you are cold and you are trying to keep warm and keep a pace, it is hard. There was a lot of focus."

Van Dyk, of South Africa, led the men's division for most of the race, but he said that he was still aware of the competitors behind him.

"You have no idea what's happening -- whether they got together and are working together as a team. You just try to go as hard as you can to stay away from them. You are just trying to go fast all the time," Van Dyk said.

Krige Schabort, of South Africa, placed second, crossing the finish line more than four minutes after Van Dyk. Kelly W. Smith, of Canada, came in third.

Switzerland's Edith Hunkeler, 33, won the women's wheelchair division with a time of 1:43:42. It was Hunkeler's second Boston Marathon win. She was crowned champion in 2002.

Hunkeler pulled ahead of Canada's Diane Roy earlier in the race and was alone as she made the turn onto Boylston Street.

"It was great today, and I am so happy," Hunkeler said. "After 25k, I felt really well. I didn't know how close the last racer was."

Roy placed second and American Shirley S. Reilly came in third in the division.

Competitors Dick and Rick Hoyt returned for their 25th Boston Marathon. Dick Hoyt pushed his son, Rick, who was born with cerebral palsy, in a wheelchair as the crowds cheered for the father and son team. Team Hoyt crossed the finish line in 3:43:27.

The 26.2-mile marathon route, which winds through eight cities and towns, was lined with nearly 1 million people, cheering on the 22,000 runners from 50 states and 100 countries.

Runners faced cool weather, with highs in the 40s -- a bit cooler than what would usually be expected in mid-April.

Over the past 110 years, the race has changed little, but this year, runners saw a two-wave start and a separate elite women's start. The first wave of runners included the men's elite runners and runners with bib numbers 1 to 10,999. The second wave of runners started 30 minutes later.

For the first time in 20 years, runners saw a course change as they headed into Boston's Back Bay. The new route took participants under the Massachusetts Avenue Bridge.

Runners competed for $575,000 in prize money, including $100,000 for the top men's and women's finishers. The winners of the 2006 Boston Marathon will get a chance to compete in the new World Marathon Majors. Five of the best-known marathons -- Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago and New York -- have joined forces to attract the best marathoners in the world. During two years of races, athletes will earn points by placing among the top five at the five marathons.

First place earns 25 points, second receives 15 points and third place will earn a runner 10 points. The man and woman with the most points in a maximum of four races will be awarded a $500,000 prize.