Sharon Lokedi Smashes Boston Marathon Course Record with Stunning Victory

Kenya’s Sharon Lokedi delivered a sensational performance at the Boston Marathon, clinching victory in a thrilling showdown with compatriot Hellen Obiri and setting a new course record.

Lokedi, who crossed the finish line in an impressive 2:17:22, broke the previous record set by Buzunesh Deba in 2014 by more than two and a half minutes. The 31-year-old also avenged her runner-up finish to Obiri at last year’s race, capturing her second major marathon title following her New York Marathon victory in 2022.

“I’m always second to her and today I was like: There’s no way,” Lokedi said after the race. “I just have to put it out there and fight till the end and see how it goes. I’m so glad I ran that fast and she was right behind me. We all fought and wanted this so bad.”

Ethiopia’s Yalemzerf Yehualaw secured third place in 2:18:06, still well within the old course record.

The race began at a blistering pace, with the leaders hitting the halfway mark in 1:08:46. As the runners faced the challenging hills in the latter part of the race, the pack began to thin out, ultimately leaving Lokedi and Obiri to battle for the win.

“We went through halfway in 68 minutes and I thought: That’s so fast! We hadn’t got to the hills yet,” said Lokedi. “We just kept the pace honest, but I was worried we were going too fast.”

In the men’s race, Kenya’s John Korir claimed a dominant victory, crossing the finish line in 2:04:45. Korir pulled away from the lead pack around mile 20 and never looked back, securing the win in commanding fashion.

Tanzania’s Alphonce Simbu finished second, just 19 seconds behind Korir, while Kenya’s Cyprian Kotut took third. American Conner Mantz finished in fourth, narrowly missing the podium.

Korir, 28, followed in the footsteps of his brother Wesley, who won the Boston Marathon 13 years ago. The pair embraced at the finish line, becoming the first siblings ever to win the race.

“I expected him there (at the finish line). I had promised him that I am going to win and I made it,” Korir said. “Today I will make jokes with him because I am the fastest in the family. He had a title for Boston in the family but now I’ve got it.”

Despite a difficult start in Boston—where Korir stumbled and fell in the first 50 meters, losing his race number—he quickly recovered and surged ahead of the pack.

In the wheelchair races, Switzerland’s Marcel Hug claimed his eighth Boston Marathon title, while USA’s Susannah Scaroni secured her second, having also triumphed in 2023.