Kenya’s national anthem was sung twice today at Boylston Street in Boston after Kenyan runners John Korir, who set a new course record, and Sharon Lokedi successfully defended their respective titles at the 130th edition of the Marathon.
Korir sets a new course record in the men’s race
Despite the hard pace and occasional surges in the men’s race, Korir still had enough energy reserved for the last 10 km of the race, where he strode away into a new course record of 2:01:52, beating his closest rival by almost a minute. There was a fierce battle for second place between Kenya’s Benson Kipruto and Tanzania’s Alphonce Simbu, of which the latter managed a stronger finish kick to place in the same position he was last year in 2:02:47, as Kipruto settled for third in 2:02:50.
Lokedi remained patient in the women’s race up to around the 35km mark when she started to make a move that only two other runners, Loice Chemnung and Irine Cheptai, could hold on to. But it wasn’t long before the two runners dropped behind from the relentless pace and followed in a single file. Well clear of any challenge, the 2022 New York City Marathon Champion cruised to defend her title in 2:18:51.
Chemnung followed for second place in 2:19:35, while Mary Ngugi-Cooper overtook a struggling Cheptai to end up on the podium in 2:20:07.
From the start, the men’s race was fast. A large group went together through the 5 km point in 14:19, projecting a finish time of 2:00:47. But, the first part of the Boston course is known to be a little downhill.
In a race without pace setters, Germany’s Hendrik Pfeiffer led most of the early stages, ensuring the fast rhythm was maintained.
A trio of Pfeiffer, Alex Maier and Ryan Ford began to break away after 13 km, but the chasing pack soon swallowed them up.
Real racing began just after 20 km when Ethiopia’s Lemi Berhanu made a move. Kenya’s defending champion followed in pursuit, catching up with him just after he had crossed the half marathon mark in 1:01:43 against Korir’s 1:01:50. For some time, the two began to open up a gap on the rest, then they slowed down again to let the rest catch up.
USA’s Zouhair Talbi then briefly took over the pacing duties as they approached the 25 km mark, but Ethiopia’s Milkesa Mengesha overtook him and crossed it in 1:13:02.
Mengesha led through 30K in 1:27:26 before Korir ran past him and began to rapidly extend the lead from the rest. Simbu and Kipruto formed a chasing pack of two behind, with Talbi running alone in fourth place.
The remaining kilometres after 35K were a race against time for Korir as he kept extending the gap, not just against opponents but against the imaginary course-record pace.
Sharon defended her title in the women’s race
Photo: Victah Sailer@PhotoRun
The women’s race began relatively slower, compared with the men’s. They crossed the 10km point in 33:31. It made for an exciting race for fans along the route, as most of them still saw their favourite runners in the leading pack, regardless of how big it was, and still held hopes of them winning.
However, after Lokedi made the move at around 35 km, the chances for most runners to finish on the podium began to dwindle as three Kenyans broke away. For Kenyan fans, a victory was already assured. It was only a matter of time before they would know which one of their runners was going to win the title.
Kenyan runners took the top four spots in the women’s race
In the end, four Kenyan women occupied the top four positions, with Jess McClain, the first American, coming in fourth in 2:20:49.
The fourth Kenyan woman was Mercy Chelangat, who ran 2:20:30. It was a long day for Cheptai, who faded to sixth in 2:20:54.
Kenyan runners dominated both the men’s and women’s races in Boston, underlining their nation’s enduring legacy in marathon running. The event delivered thrilling moments for fans and reaffirmed the Marathon’s status as one of the world’s premier races.