Boston Marathon Winner John Korir Sets Course Record As Kenyans Sweep Men's And Women's Races

Kenyan runner John Korir has won nan Boston Marathon for nan 2nd twelvemonth successful a statement — and this clip he did it successful record-setting fashion.

Korir crossed nan decorativeness statement Monday greeting pinch a clip of 2 hours, 1 minute, 52 seconds, shattering nan erstwhile people grounds of of 2:03:02 group by Geoffrey Mutai successful 2011. It’s nan 5th fastest marathon of each time.

Mutai was really bumped down to 4th connected nan all-time database arsenic each of nan apical 3 finishers from nan 2026 men’s title hit his erstwhile grounds time. Tanzania’s Alphonce Felix Simbu came successful 2nd (2:02:47) and Kenya’s Benson Kipruto was 3rd (2:02:50).

Korir pulled distant from nan battalion arsenic nan group was approaching nan Heartbreak Hill area betwixt miles 20 and 21. After nan race, he told reporters that he had nary thought he had group a caller people grounds until aft he crossed nan decorativeness line.

“I knew I would take sides my title, but I didn’t cognize I could tally my fastest,” Korir said. “So for me, it was conscionable spell and take sides my title, but nan clip came, truthful I’m happy.”

Korir receives $150,000 for winning nan title and different $50,000 for mounting a caller people record.

Kenya’s Sharon Lokedi celebrates aft winning nan women’s section of nan Boston Marathon connected April 20.

(Charles Krupa / Associated Press)

Fellow Kenyan Sharon Lokedi besides was a repetition victor successful nan women’s race. Her clip of 2:18:51 is nan second-fastest successful title history, down her 2025 clip of 2:17:22. She was followed crossed nan decorativeness statement by 3 countrywomen. Loice Chemnung stayed adjacent to Lokedi earlier fading precocious to decorativeness successful 2nd spot (2:19:35). Mary Ngugi-Cooper was 3rd (2:20:07) and Mercy Chelangat 4th (2:20:30).

“It feels great,” Lokedi said of defending her title. “I ‘m really happy pinch it. I consciousness for illustration this people challenges you truthful much, and pinch nan thief of group and each nan cheers of nan course, it makes it special, truthful I’m really grateful.”

Like Korir, Lokedi receives $150,000 for winning nan race.

New people records for U.S. runners besides were set, arsenic Zouhair Talbi vanished nan men’s title successful 2:03:45 and Jess McClain vanished nan women’s title successful 2:20:49. Both runners placed 5th successful their respective races.

“I knew it was going to beryllium tailwind, which is an advantage for america to tally a accelerated time,” Talbi told reporters aft nan race,” but nan gait is wished by nan leaders, and astatine this constituent you conscionable want to travel nan pace. A batch of athletes were pushing nan gait early on, and ... I was like, ‘Yeah, today’s going to beryllium a accelerated time.’”

Switzerland’s Marcel Hug won nan men’s wheelchair section pinch a clip of 1:16:06. It’s his 4th consecutive Boston Marathon triumph and ninth clip overall, bringing him wrong 1 triumph of tying South African awesome Ernst van Dyk for astir wheelchair section wins successful title history.

Britain’s Eden Rainbow-Cooper won nan women’s wheelchair section successful 1:30:51, 2 years aft winning nan title for nan first time. She and Hug each person $50,000 for winning their races.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.