Ethiopia’s Sisay Lemma Claims First Boston Marathon Title, Hellen Obiri Triumphs Again

Sisay Lemma of Ethiopia secures first Boston Marathon title, while Hellen Obiri triumphs once more. Catch the highlights!

Ethiopia's Sisay Lemma clinched his inaugural Boston Marathon victory on Monday, crossing the finish line with a time of 2:06:17 in the men's race, while Hellen Obiri of Kenya successfully defended her 2023 title in the women's category.

 

Lemma, currently the fourth-fastest man in history following his remarkable 2:01:48 performance at the Valencia Marathon last month, surged ahead early in the race, establishing a commanding lead.

 

Despite the chasing pack narrowing the gap as the competition progressed, the 33-year-old maintained his momentum, securing his second major marathon win after triumphing at the 2021 London Marathon.

 

His exceptional achievement positions him as a leading contender for gold at the upcoming Paris Olympics. Lemma finished 41 seconds ahead of Mohamed Esa, securing second place, and one minute and five seconds ahead of double-defending champion Evans Chebet, who claimed third.

 

The top-performing male US runner was CJ Albertson, finishing seventh with an unofficial time of 2:09:53.

 

In the women's race, the competition culminated in a thrilling showdown between reigning champion Obiri and former New York City Marathon titleholder Sharon Lokedi. Neck-and-neck throughout the final miles, Obiri surged ahead to retain her crown by a narrow margin of eight seconds, crossing the finish line in 2:22:37.

 

Obiri, 34, became the first woman since 2005 to secure consecutive Boston Marathon victories, adding to her accolades that include winning the New York Marathon in November last year. Emma Bates emerged as the top-performing female US runner, finishing with an unofficial time of 2:27:14.

 

Earlier in the day, Britain's Eden Rainbow-Cooper celebrated her maiden major marathon triumph, clocking in at 1:35:11 to claim victory in the women's wheelchair event. She finished 90 seconds ahead of Switzerland's Manuela Schär, becoming the first British woman to win the Boston Marathon's wheelchair race and the first British winner of any elite race at the event since 1985.

 

In the men's wheelchair event, Switzerland's Marcel Hug secured his seventh Boston Marathon victory, overcoming a mid-race crash to finish with a time of 1:15:33. Dubbed 'the Silver Bullet,' Hug broke his own course record en route to victory, showcasing his dominance in major world marathons as a multiple-time Paralympic gold medalist.