One of the world’s most prestigious marathon titles has been decided, as John Korir and Sharon Lokedi both delivered spectacular runs on the streets of Boston in their title-defence quests. Korir has smashed the course record by more than a minute, lowering it to sub 2:02 as Lokedi fascinated the field by her solo run to her 2:18:51 finish.
The 29-year-old Korir started to race as a favourite after his victory in the classic course twelve months ago. Kenyan marathoner stayed in a 10-man lead group and made a breakaway around the 30th kilometre mark in “Heartbreak Hill”, famous climbing section in the course. Korir produced two very fast 5K splits in 14:10 and 14:00, which gave him a formidable lead over two main rivals, Alphonce Simbu and Benson Kipruto. He pushed more for the course record and arrived in 2:01:52 at the finish line.
Korir, younger brother of former Boston winner Wesley Korir, cuts 70 seconds off the 15-year-old mark of Geoffrey Mutai, who recorded a better mark than world record time in 2011.
The battle between two road running giants, Alphonce Simbu and Benson Kipruto, continued until the very end of the race. Simbu, the current world champion from Tanzania, sprinted off by a couple of seconds from the former Boston winner and clocked the fastest mark of his life, 2:04:47. He acquired his second consecutive Boston podium as Kipruto claimed his eighth WMM top-three finish.
Men’s race was turning into an instant classic as top eight marks went under the two-hour, five-minute barrier. It was only the second time that had happened in marathon history, and the Boston 2026 became the second-fastest race in that term, behind the Valencia Marathon 2024.
In the women’s race, Sharon Lokedi retained her title in stylish victory. She remained within the main group and went ahead around the 35th kilometre. She made an impressive 14:48 passing between the 35 and 40 kilometre marks and arrived in 2:18:51. Despite being one and a half minutes slower than her own course record from last year, Lokedi impressed the field with her massive solo effort in the final kilometres and became victorious for the third time in a World Marathon Major stop. She covered the second half in 67:48, the best-ever running clock at the race, and produced a more than 3-minute negative split!
Boston debutant Loice Chemnung clocked 2:19:35 and finished second right behind fast-finishing Lokedi. Chemnung has a 2:18:24 personal best in Chicago’s flat course and has now proved her skills in the toughest one.
The US-based Mary Ngugi completed the all-Kenyan female podium in Boston while she kicked off to beat Mercy Chelangat in Boylston Street. She clocked 2:20:07 and secured her third Boston podium in five years.
