• ATHLETICS

• Frank Rotich 22 hrs ago

Korir breaks course record as Lokedi successfully defends Boston Marathon title as Kenyans shine again

Kenya once again stamped its authority in global athletics as John Korir and Sharon Lokedi delivered brilliant victories at the Boston Marathon on Monday. 

Korir produced a stunning performance to win the men’s race in a new course record time of 2:01:52, while Lokedi successfully defended her women’s title with a strong and tactical run.

In the men’s race, the pace was fast from the start, with a large group of elite runners staying together through the early stages. American runner CJ Albertson led early, but the race remained wide open as big names like Benson Kipruto and Alphonce Simbu stayed close.

The race changed after the halfway mark when Ethiopia’s Lemi Berhanu pushed to the front. However, Korir remained patient before making his decisive move after 30km, especially near the famous Heartbreak Hill.

From there, Korir took full control, pulling away from the chasing pack and running confidently to the finish line. His record-breaking time not only secured victory but also placed him among the fastest marathon runners in history. Simbu finished second, with Kipruto coming in third.

In the women’s race, competition was equally tight, with a large leading group staying together for much of the race. Runners like Irine Cheptai and Mary Ngugi-Cooper remained in contention as the pace built steadily.

Lokedi began to show her strength after 30km, moving to the front and controlling the race. As they approached the final stages, it became a two-way battle between Lokedi and Loice Chemnung.

In the closing kilometers, Lokedi used her experience and timing to pull away and cross the finish line in 2:18:51. Chemnung finished second, while Ngugi-Cooper completed an all-Kenyan podium.

The double victory highlights Kenya’s continued dominance in marathon running, with both Korir and Lokedi delivering world-class performances on one of the sport’s biggest stages.