Kenya’s Hellen Obiri broke away from a large pack late to become the first woman to repeat as Boston Marathon champion since 2005, crossing the finish line in 2hr 22min 37sec on Monday.
The 34-year-old Obiri split from more than a dozen runners in the second half of the race, then outfought a challenge from her compatriot, Sharon Lodeki, over the final three miles for the victory. It led a Kenyan sweep of the podium, with Lodeki crossing second in 2:22:45. Two-time champion and 44-year-old Edna Kiplagat was third in 2:23:21.
In the men’s race, Ethiopia’s Sisay Lemma claimed victory after a solo surge early in the race gave him the platform to finish first in 2:06:17. His compatriot Mohamed Esa took second place, 41 seconds behind Lemma while defending champion Evans Chebet of Kenya was third, one minute and five seconds off the winner. The 33-year-old Lemma set a blistering pace until fatigue set in towards the end but neither Esa nor Chebet could catch him, although Esa made a late surge to secure second spot.
Kenya’s Catherine Ndereba was the last repeat women’s Boston champion in 2005, part of her run of four titles in five years. Obiri won both her Boston debut last April and last year’s New York Marathon. A two-time Olympic medalist, she is a provisional member of Kenya’s Olympic team.
Emma Bates, who led in the second half of the race, was the top American finisher in 12th (2:27:14). Sara Hall came in 15th (2:27:58), followed by 2018 Boston winner Des Linden in 16th (2:28:27).
In the men’s wheelchair event, Marcel Hug of Switzerland overcame a crash and captured his seventh Boston title, setting a new course record Monday of 1:15:33. It bests his previous course mark of 1:17:06 set last year and was just seven seconds from setting a new world record. It continues his streak of 11 consecutive major marathon titles.
American Daniel Romanchuk was second in 1:20:37, followed by Britain’s David Weir in 1:22:12. The 38-year-old Hug took advantage of cool temperatures at the start of the race and was more than 30 seconds ahead of his fellow competitors by the halfway mark.
In the women’s race, Britain’s Eden Rainbow-Cooper won her first Boston crown, crossing in 1:35:11. She was followed by Switzerland’s Manuela Schar in 1:36.41 and Australia’s Madison de Rozario 1:39.20.
It was Rainbow-Cooper’s first major win. The 22-year-old was seventh in Boston a year ago. Her previous top finishes in a major was second in Toyko this year and second in Berlin in 2023.
Hug was cruising until he crashed while making the turn at the start of the Newton Hills section of the course, skidding and hitting a barrier at about the 18-mile mark. But he quickly recovered and maintained a nearly four-minute lead over the field. Hug and Rainbow-Cooper received $40,000 for the win and a bonus of $50,000 for setting the record.
