It was a historic Monday on the streets of Boston as the 130th running of the world’s most iconic marathon saw a masterclass in Kenyan distance running. For the first time in 30 years, both the men’s and women’s defending champions successfully retained their titles, with John Korir and Sharon Lokedi cementing their status as the new royalty of the “Beantown” circuit.
Korir Shatters the Record Books
John Korir didn’t just win; he obliterated the course record. Benefiting from a steady tailwind and a fearless racing strategy, the 29-year-old clocked a mind-boggling 2:01:52. Not only did he secure back-to-back victories, but he also smashed Geoffrey Mutai’s legendary 2011 course record by over a minute.
Korir’s second half of the race was particularly frightening—a 1:00:02 split that left rivals like Tanzania’s Alphonce Simbu and fellow Kenyan Benson Kipruto fighting for the crumbs. It was a dominant performance that proves the Korir legacy is alive and well, following in the footsteps of his brother and 2012 champion, Wesley Korir.
Lokedi’s Tactical Masterclass
In the women’s elite field, Sharon Lokedi proved that her 2025 victory was no fluke. While last year was a neck-and-neck battle with Hellen Obiri, this year Lokedi was in a league of her own by the time she hit Boylston Street.
She made her decisive move near the top of Heartbreak Hill, pulling away from a lead pack that included Loice Chemnung and Mary Ngugi-Cooper. Lokedi crossed the line in 2:18:51, nearly a minute ahead of Chemnung, to lead a clean Kenyan 1-2-3 sweep of the podium.
American Pride and Wheelchair Legends
It was also a banner day for the home fans. Jessica McClain finished 5th in the women’s race with a time of 2:20:49—the fastest time ever recorded by an American woman on the Boston course. On the men’s side, Zouhair Talbi also took 5th, setting a new American course record of 2:03:45.
In the wheelchair divisions, Switzerland’s Marcel Hug claimed his ninth Boston title, while Great Britain’s Eden Rainbow-Cooper notched her second career victory in the women’s division.
