Course records and back-to-back champions in Boston

Korir was not the only repeat winner: in the women’s race, 2025 champion Sharon Lokedi of Kenya broke the tape in 2:18:51, the second-fastest winning time in race history after her own mark of 2:17:22 set last year.

And in the wheelchair division, Marcel Hug of Switzerland clocked in at 1:16:06, winning for the ninth time, with Eden Rainbow-Cooper of Great Britain notching her second Boston win in the past three years, in 1:30:51.

Taking advantage of almost-ideal conditions – 45 degrees F at the start, with a slight tailwind – the men’s open division went out fast from the gun, running near or ahead of course-record pace every mile. At halfway, 2016 Boston Marathon champion Lemi Berhanu led in an unprecedented 1:01:43, soon to be overtaken by a surging Milkesa Mengesha of Ethiopia, with Korir in immediate and quick pursuit.

With Heartbreak Hill in view, Korir made his own move; by 20 miles he’d built a lead that read 7 seconds by the clock but was insurmountable by its feel. “We just tried to catch him, but he went, so we didn’t,” said Alphonce Felix Simbu of Tanzania, who instead dueled with 2021 Boston champion Benson Kipruto of Kenya up Boylston Street. Simbu would finish as runner-up for the second consecutive year, with Kipruto coming in third, but their respective times of 2:02:47 and 2:02:50 were also faster than the previous course record.

“I knew I would defend my title, but I didn’t know I would run that fast,” said the 29-year-old Korir, who was competing here for the fourth time. “For many years, my mind was set on the course record, [of 2:03:02, set by Geoffrey Mutai in 2011], and I thank God that I have achieved it now.”

In the women’s race, American Carrie Ellwood led a pack of 16 through the halfway mark in 1:11:02; at 20 miles, nine women still remained. It was near the top of Heartbreak Hill that Lokedi began to assert herself, and by 35K only countrywomen Loice Chemnung, Irine Cheptai and Mary Ngugi-Cooper accompanied her.

But not for long: by Mile 23, Lokedi – in a borrowed watch, after realizing on the bus to the start line that she had forgotten hers – was in control, her 8-second lead over Boston rookie Chemnung looking secure.

“I just had to be patient,” said the 32-year-old repeat champion of the race’s early miles. “After I broke, I was like ‘I don’t know what I’m gonna do, but I’m just gonna follow the car.”

Chemnung would finish second in 2:19:35 and Ngugi-Cooper in 2:20:07, moving to #5 and #6 on the race’s all-time list.

It was an historic day for Americans in both the men’s and women’s races, with Zouhair Talbi clocking 2:03:45 and Jessica McClain crossing the line in 2:20:49 for the fastest times by an American ever on this course. Both finished fifth.

Both wheelchair races were decided early, with Rainbow-Cooper building a 24-second lead over Switzerland’s Catherine DeBrunner by 5K that she would never relinquish. DeBrunner would finish second in 1:32:59, with American Tatyana McFadden third in 1:36:43.

For Hug, his ninth victory here leaves him only one short of Ernst van Dyk’s all-time mark of 10. The perennial champion won by 6:38 over runner-up Daniel Romanchuk (1:22:44), with Jetze Plat of the Netherlands third in 1:24:13.

“Every single win here in Boston is really something special, very unique, and means a lot to me,” said the 40-year-old Hug. “And now to win nine times is even more incredible.”