Monday night, Kenyan native Hellen Obiri triumphantly defended her Boston Marathon title. Her time of 2:22:37 put her ahead of fellow countrymen Sharon Lokedi and Edna Kiplagat, who finished in a podium sweep.
Eight seconds later, Lokedi—who, like Obiri, is a member of Team Kenya's provisional Olympic squad for Paris—arrived home ahead of Edna Kiplagat, 44.
Following Catherine Ndereba's feat in 2005, Obiri becomes the first female to win the Boston Marathon twice in a row.
Nineteen women formed a leading group at the halfway point of the race. In the last three miles, Obiri and her compatriots Sharon Lokedi and Edna Kiplagat finally pulled away.
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In the last mile, Lokedi pulled away from Obiri, who had earlier declared that the race would serve as a warm-up for her first Olympic marathon attempt in Paris, France.
Evans Chebet lost his title to Ethiopia's Sisay Lemma, who finished third in the men's race behind second-place Ethiopian Mohammed Esa, cutting the tape after 2:06:17.
Lemma got the redemption he craved after not finishing the Boston Marathon the year before by attacking early and holding on for a commanding victory on Sunday.
Lemma took the lead in the first few miles and went on to win, leading by more than two minutes at the halfway point.
Lemma finished 41 seconds ahead of his compatriot Mohamed Esa, who surged late to take second place ahead of Kenyan Evans Chebet, who was denied a third consecutive Boston title. By the time those chasing could close the gap, it was too late.
With a time of 2:01:48 for his personal best, Lemma is now the fourth fastest marathoner in history. He was also on track to break the course record of 2:03:02 set by Kenyan Geoffrey Mutai in 2011.
The grueling hills on the second half of the course took their toll on him, and as Chebet and Kenyan John Korir pushed the pace over the last few miles, he finished with the tenth-fastest Boston time ever.
Lemma had enough left to hold onto his lead while Esa surged past Korir and Chebet to take second place behind him.
Lemma had not won a marathon since his victory in London in 2021.
On a course where Lemma had placed 30th in 2019 and failed to finish twice, it was all the more pleasing.
