Boston Marathon 2012
The elite men runners start the 116th running of the Boston Marathon in Hopkinton, Massachusetts April 16, 2012. Reuters

Kenyan marathon runner Wesley Korir won the 2012 Boston Marathon on Monday. He becomes the 19th Kenyan to win the marathon out of the last 22 races, according to CNBC's Darren Rovell.

Korir won with an unofficial time of 2:12:40.

It was Korir's first time running the Boston Marathon, but he is a very accomplished distance runner. The 29-year-old won the Los Angeles Marathon in back-to-back years in 2009 and 2010, as well as finishing second in the Chicago Marathon in 2011.

Before the race Korir told the Boston Herald that he was very excited to run in the race.

I'm loving it. It's my first time, said Korir, 29. I think one thing that I like is meeting with all the people here. They're nice. There's a lot of history. Boston is the cornerstone of marathoning. So, just being here and meeting people on the street I feel like a champion.

The women's race was won by Sharon Cherop. Cherop, another Kenyan, was able to hold off Jemima Jelagat Sumong in a close finish to win the race. Both Korir and Cherop win $150,000 for their efforts. She won with an unofficial time of 2:31.

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