Defending champion Hellen Obiri of Kenya sprinted down Boylston Road to say her second Boston win in a row on Monday, breaking the tape in 2:22:37, along with her pal and compatriot, 2022 New York Metropolis Marathon champion Sharon Lokedi following her onto the rostrum in 2:22:45. Two-time Boston champion Edna Kiplagat (2017 and 2021) completed a formidable third, in 2:23:21.
The Boston Marathon elite girls’s race was like a repeat of final yr’s New York Metropolis Marathon, when Obiri and Lokedi battled by way of Central Park with Ethiopia’s Letesenbet Gidey. On Monday, Obiri pulled away from Lokedi at 41 km, and held on to win as the 2 turned onto Bolyston St.
“It’s exhausting to defend your title–I didn’t hand over,” Obiri stated after the race. “I saved telling myself that my household was watching, and I knew the Olympics have been on the road.” Obiri is the primary girl to win back-to-back Boston Marathons since Katherine Ndereba of Kenya, who gained in 2004 and 2005. (Ndereba additionally gained in 2000, 2001 and 2002.)
Obiri is the sixth girl to win back-to-back Boston Marathons. That is her third marathon win in a row, and can undoubtedly cement her choice for the Kenyan nationwide staff for the Paris Olympics in August, the place she is going to possible be the favorite.
Lokedi was a late scratch to this race in 2023, and needed to wait till this yr to make her first look. Lokedi was third finally yr’s New York Metropolis Marathon.
A tactical race
Obiri and Lokedi’s run alongside Commonwealth Avenue got here after a really tactical race that noticed a pack of round 20 girls working collectively for for much longer than we often see in marathons. Contemplating the highest execs anticipate to race the Olympic marathon in a little bit over three months from now, none appeared concerned with working any more durable than completely needed, and sat patiently within the pack till the ultimate phases. (The Boston course can also be much like what athletes can anticipate in Paris–a hilly, demanding course.) The U.S.’s Emma Bates, who was the highest American at Boston final yr, ending fifth, tried to maintain the tempo trustworthy, main for a lot of the race; she was the highest American once more this yr, however was effectively again of her placement final yr, ending twelfth.
It was additionally heat–20 C or larger for many of the race. This was most likely an element within the males’s race additionally, which was dominated nearly from the beginning by Ethiopia’s Sisay Lemma, who ran solo to victory, with nobody in sight behind him for many of the race. Contemplating his earlier luck in Boston (he DNF’d in 2017 and was thirtieth in 2019), they most likely figured he would blow up–but additionally that it was too dangerous to go after him within the warmth.
Prime 10 girls
1. Hellen Obiri KEN 2:22:37
2. Sharon Lokedi KEN 2:22:45
3. Edna Kiplagat KEN 2:23:21
4. Buze Diriba ETH 2:24:04
5. Senbere Teferi ETH 2:24:04
6. Mary Ngugi-Cooper KEN 2:24:24
7. Worknesh Edesa ETH 2:24:47
8. Fatima Gardadi MOR 2:24:53
9. Tiruye Mesfin ETH 2:24:58
10. Dera Dida ETH 2:25:16
U.S. girls
Emma Bates was the highest U.S. girl at this yr’s Boston Marathon, ending twelfth in 2:27:14. Sara Corridor was second (fifteenth girl, 2:27:58) and Des Linden third (sixteenth, 2:28:27) amongst American girls.
Canadian outcomes
Canada’s Michelle Krezonoski of Toronto was the primary Canadian girl within the elite discipline, ending twenty third, in 2:38:23. (Anne-Marie Comeau didn’t begin.)
For full outcomes of the 128th Boston Marathon, click on right here.
Canadian Working is on the 2024 Boston Marathon with Underneath Armour to have fun the launch of the Velociti Elite 2, the model’s quickest carbon racing shoe thus far. Remember to keep plugged into our socials on Instagram and X for the whole lot Boston this weekend.
