Sharon Lokedi Breaks Women’s Course Record at Boston Marathon

Kenyan runner Sharon Lokedi delivered a stunning performance at the Boston Marathon, setting a new women’s course record and outpacing fellow Kenyan and two-time defending champion Hellen Obiri in a dramatic finale.

Lokedi finished in 2:17:22, slashing more than two and a half minutes off the previous course best set by Buzunesh Deba in 2014.

The victory marked her second major marathon title, following her win in New York in 2022, and served as redemption after finishing second to Obiri in last year’s Boston race.

“I’m usually second to her, but today I told myself that couldn’t happen,” said the 31-year-old. “I just gave it everything until the end. I’m proud I ran that time, and everyone pushed hard we all really wanted this.”

Ethiopia’s Yalemzerf Yehualaw secured third place with a time of 2:18:06, also coming in under the old course record.

The women’s field started aggressively, hitting the halfway point at 1:08:46. As the race progressed into the tougher hill segments, the lead group narrowed to just Lokedi and Obiri battling for the win.

“We passed the halfway mark in 68 minutes, and I thought, wow, that’s quick we hadn’t even hit the hills yet,” Lokedi recounted. “We kept up a strong pace, but I worried we might be overreaching.”

In the men’s competition, Kenya’s John Korir broke away from the lead group around mile 20, ultimately finishing in 2:04:45 to secure a commanding win.

Tanzania’s Alphonce Simbu edged out Kenya’s Cyprian Kotut in a sprint to take second place, finishing 19 seconds behind Korir.

American Conner Mantz finished just outside the top three in fourth.

Korir, 28, followed in the footsteps of his brother Wesley, who won in Boston 13 years ago. The brothers embraced at the finish line, celebrating a historic moment as the first siblings to ever win the race.

“I knew he’d be waiting for me at the end,” said Korir in an interview with ESPN. “I had promised I’d win, and I did it. Now I get to tease him because I’m the fastest in the family now. He had the Boston title, but I’ve matched it.”

Despite falling in the first 50 meters and losing his race bib, the reigning Chicago Marathon champion quickly recovered and rejoined the front pack.

His stumble didn’t slow him down, and he eventually pulled away decisively in the final stretch, especially after defending champion Sisay Lemma of Ethiopia dropped out.

In the wheelchair division, Switzerland’s Marcel Hug claimed his eighth Boston victory, while American Susannah Scaroni earned her second title, repeating her success from 2023.