Sisay Lemma of Ethiopia took charge from the starting line and never looked back, clinching victory at the Boston Marathon on Monday with a remarkable time of 2 hours, 6 minutes, and 17 seconds. His solo run for most of the course solidified his place in history, marking the 10th fastest time in the race’s 128-year legacy.
Arriving in Boston as the frontrunner with his impressive record, Lemma showcased his dominance once again after his record-breaking win in Valencia last year, where he became only the fourth person to break the 2-hour, 2-minute mark. Asserting his authority on the course, the 2021 London champion surged ahead in Ashland, establishing a lead of over half a mile.
Lemma blazed through the first half of the marathon in an astounding one hour and 19 minutes, a staggering 99 seconds quicker than Geoffrey Mutai’s record-setting pace in 2011. As he crossed the finish line, a triumphant smile adorned his face as he collapsed to the ground, reveling in his victory.
“I made the decision to push the pace early on,” Lemma remarked, reflecting on his strategy. “I maintained it throughout, and it paid off with the win.”
Mohamed Esa of Ethiopia narrowed the gap in the final miles, securing second place just 41 seconds behind Lemma, while two-time defending champion Evans Chebet settled for third.
In the women’s race, Hellen Obiri successfully defended her title, sprinting ahead of Kenyan competitor Sharon Lokedi on Boylston Street to clinch victory by eight seconds. Obiri’s consecutive win makes her the first woman since 2005 to achieve back-to-back triumphs in the Boston Marathon, completing the race in 2 hours, 22 minutes, and 37 seconds.
“Defending the title was a formidable challenge. Only six women have accomplished it in Boston’s history. I aspired to be one of them, so I pushed myself to the limit,” Obiri shared, beaming with pride. “Now, I’m honored to etch my name into Boston’s illustrious history.”
Obiri, 34, surged ahead of the pack in the latter half of the race, ultimately fending off Lokedi’s late challenge in the final three miles. The podium saw a Kenyan sweep, with Lokedi securing second place in 2 hours, 22 minutes, and 45 seconds, followed by two-time champion Edna Kiplagat in third place with a time of 2 hours, 23 minutes, and 21 seconds. Kiplagat’s impressive finish marked a remarkable comeback from her 30th-place finish the previous year.
Wheelchair Category
Marcel Hug of Switzerland showcased his resilience and dominance in the men’s wheelchair Boston Marathon, securing his seventh title while shattering the course record with an impressive time of 1 hour, 15 minutes, and 33 seconds on Monday.
This achievement surpasses his own previous record of 1 hour, 17 minutes, and 6 seconds set just last year, falling a mere seven seconds short of a new world record. Hug’s victory extends his remarkable streak of 11 consecutive major marathon titles.
American Daniel Romanchuk claimed the second spot, finishing in 1 hour, 20 minutes, and 37 seconds, followed by Britain’s David Weir with a time of 1 hour, 22 minutes, and 12 seconds. Taking advantage of favorable mid-50s temperatures at the race’s start, the 38-year-old Hug surged ahead of his competitors by over 30 seconds at the halfway mark.
In the women’s wheelchair race, Britain’s Eden Rainbow-Cooper clinched her maiden Boston victory, crossing the finish line in 1 hour, 35 minutes, and 11 seconds. Switzerland’s Manuela Schar followed closely behind, securing second place with a time of 1 hour, 36 minutes, and 41 seconds, while Australia’s Madison de Rozario claimed third place in 1 hour, 39 minutes, and 20 seconds.
For Rainbow-Cooper, this win marked her first major triumph after finishing seventh in Boston the previous year. Her notable performances include second-place finishes in Tokyo this year and Berlin in 2023.
Hug encountered a setback when he crashed while negotiating the turn at the start of the Newton Hills section of the course, skidding and colliding with a barrier around the 18-mile mark. However, he swiftly recovered and maintained a commanding lead of nearly four minutes over the rest of the field.
Reflecting on the incident, Hug took responsibility, stating, “It was my fault. I had too much weight, too much pressure from above to my steering, so I couldn’t steer.”
Both Hug and Rainbow-Cooper received $40,000 for their victories, along with a bonus of $50,000 for setting a new course record. As the favorite for the Paris Paralympic marathon, Hug is set to represent Switzerland in France this summer.
