Kenyans Sharon Lokedi and John Korir Retain Boston Marathon Titles with Record Performances

Lokedi won the women's division in 2 hours, 18 minutes, and 51 seconds, marking her second straight victory. Korir finished the men's race in 2 hours, 1 minute, and 52 seconds, breaking the Boston Marathon course record and achieving the fifth-fastest marathon time ever.

Race Conditions and Performances

Lokedi rode a tailwind to join fellow Kenyan John Korir, who shattered the Boston Marathon course record in the men's race, as a back-to-back champion. Lokedi, who broke the women's course record last year by more than 2½ minutes, took the lead entering the Newton Hills and emerged from them with an expanding lead.

On a day that started in the 30s but warmed to 45 degrees (7 degrees Celsius) by the start, Lokedi pulled off her gloves as she went through Coolidge Corner in Brookline and smiled her way down Boylston Street. Loice Chemnung was second, 44 seconds back, followed by Mary Ngugi-Cooper in third.

An American woman, who ran the fastest time ever for an American woman, finished fifth. Korir broke the Boston Marathon course record in the men’s race, riding a tailwind to outrun the strongest field in event history in a time of 2hr 1min 52sec – the fifth-fastest marathon of all time.

Lokedi and Korir each received $150,000 and a gilded olive wreath from the plains of Marathon, Greece.

Wheelchair Divisions Marcel

Hug won the men's wheelchair race for the ninth time.

GB’s Rainbow-Cooper took the women's wheelchair title. The victories extended Kenyan dominance in the marathon for a second consecutive year.

“Sharon Lokedi won the Boston Marathon for the second straight year Monday, winning the women's race in 2 hours, 18 minutes, 51 seconds." — ESPN News Services, April 20, 2026 (espn.com) > "Korir broke the Boston Marathon course record in the men’s race, riding a tailwind to outrun the strongest field in event history in a time of 2hr 1min 52sec – the fifth-fastest marathon of all time.”