Ethiopia’s Sisay Lemma and Kenya’s Hellen Obiri were victorious at the Boston Marathon on Monday (15), winning the World Athletics Platinum Label road race in 2:06:17 and 2:22:37 respectively.For Lemma, it was a race of redemption, following two previous outings in the US city that ended in disappointment. His winning time is the fourth fastest in Boston history.
Obiri, meanwhile, successfully defended her title, notching up her third victory in a row in a World Marathon Majors race and leading a Kenyan sweep of the podium.
The two races played out in contrasting fashion; Lemma made an early break in the men’s race and built up a huge lead, eventually winning by 41 seconds. Conversely, in the women’s contest, the real racing began only in the final few miles with Obiri eventually finishing just eight seconds ahead of fellow Kenyan Sharon Lokedi.
Chebet, the defending champion, this time finished third in 2:07:22 – his fourth consecutive podium finish in a marathon major.
“I previously didn’t finish in this race, so I wanted redemption for that, that’s why I came,” said Lemma, who last year moved to fourth on the world all-time list with his 2:01:48 victory in Valencia. “Thankfully I was able to redeem myself, so I’m happy. My plan was to break the course record, but the hills at the end made me really tired.
“The reason I raced in Boston is because the course is similar to the Olympic one, so hopefully this will be good preparation for the Paris Games.”
In stark contrast to the men’s race, a pack of about 20 women ran together for most of the first half. They went through 10km in 33:27 and reached the half-way point in 1:12:33 with most of the big contenders all still in contention, all of whom appeared to be running within themselves, saving their energy for the more challenging parts of the race.
Obiri, past winner Edna Kiplagat and 2022 New York winner Sharon Lokedi featured in the sizeable pack, along with 2015 world 5000m silver medallist Senbere Teferi, 2022 world silver medallist Judith Korir, world bronze medallist Fatima Gardadi, and Ethiopia’s Buze Diriba.
Obiri, displaying the same finishing strength that has carried the 34-year-old to many major victories and medals, charged through the line in 2:22:37, earning her third marathon victory in what was just her fourth career race over the distance.
Lokedi, also a relatively inexperienced marathon runner, claimed second place in 2:22:45, while Kiplagat completed the Kenyan podium sweep in 2:23:21.
“I knew that Sharon was very strong so I tried my best at the end,” Obiri said after the race. “I tried to push, but she was still close behind me. To win here makes me so very happy.
“When I won here last year, I was not that familiar with the marathon. This year my training was perfect and I trusted everything we were doing.
“Winning is something very precious to me,” she added. “After winning here, I really hope I’ll be chosen to compete at the Olympics.”
Boston Marathon 2024 Leading Results
Women
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 Workenesh Edesa (ETH) 2:24:47
8 Fatima Gardadi (MAR) 2:24:53
9 Tiruye Mesfin (ETH) 2:24:58
10 Dera Dida (ETH) 2:25:16
Men
1 Sisay Lemma (ETH) 2:06:17
2 Mohamed Esa (ETH) 2:06:58
3 Evans Chebet (KEN) 2:07:22
4 John Korir (KEN) 2:07:40
5 Albert Korir (KEN) 2:07:47
6 Isaac Mpofu (ZIM) 2:08:17
7 CJ Albertson (USA) 2:09:53
8 Yuma Morii (KEN) 2:09:59
9 Cybrian Kotut (KEN) 2:10:29
10 Zouhair Talbi (MAR) 2:10:45
