The energy of the entire running universe has landed on Boston this weekend as arguably the most prestigious marathon continues the momentum of an exciting spring majors season.
Both of last year’s champions, John Korir and Sharon Lokedi, return to defend their titles at the Boston Marathon and lead a pair of loaded men’s and women’s fields that will line up in Hopkinton on Monday for 130th edition of the race.
Lokedi pulled off a stunning 2:17:22 course-record performance against Hellen Obiri and denied her a historic third straight win. But this year Lokedi has her sights on building her own streak in Boston as Irine Cheptai, Workenesh Edesa, Loice Chemnung and Bedatu Hirpa are ready to play the role of spoiler.
“Boston in 2025 was beyond expectations. Breaking the course record, earning a victory, and racing against some of the best women in the world made 2025’s race a career highlight,” Lokedi said. “We’re already training hard to run it back in 2026.”
For Korir, facing off against a solid men’s group that includes Benson Kipruto, Milkesa Mengesha, Cybrian Kotut and Abdi Nageeye means that he will need to avoid similar mishaps like last year’s race when he stumbled near the start and later had his bib detached. Korir would finish the race with the bib in his hand on the way to a dominating 2:04:45 win.
“Last year’s race was a very meaningful win for me and my family, and I look forward to coming back to Boston again,” Korir said after he was it was announced that he would return to Boston. “I aim to finish first and run fast again in April.”
In the wheelchair division, Marcel Hug is back and ready to continue to etch his name among the legends who’ve made history on the course. Hug won last year’s race in 1:24:01 and looks for his ninth title in Boston and fourth straight. Daniel Romanchuk and Delmace Mayo will be his main competitors as his tries to add another chapter in the book of the all-time wheelchair greats.
Manuela Schar is targeting her fifth Boston win in the women’s wheelchair race while 2025 champion Susannah Scaroni will not be on hand to defend her title. But Tatyana McFadden, Catherine DeBrunner and Eden Rainbow-Cooper all have the experience and credentials to cross the line first.
Start times
Wheelchair men – 9:06 a.m.
Wheelchair women – 9:09 a.m.
Handcycles/duos – 9:30 a.m.
Elite men – 9:37 a.m.
Elite women – 9:47 a.m.
Para athletics division – 9:50 a.m.
Wave 1 – 10:00 a.m.
Wave 2 – 10:15 a.m.
Wave 3 – 10:28 a.m.
Wave 4 – 10:41 a.m.
Wave 5 – 11:01 a.m.
Wave 6 – 11:21 a.m.
How To Watch
The race will be broadcast live on ESPN2 from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. nationally, streamed on ESPN+ from 4 a.m. to 4 p.m. and aired locally in the Boston area on WCVB Channel 5 (ABC) starting at 4 a.m. Live results and runner tracking are available on the B.A.A. Racing app.
All times Eastern.
Men’s elite field
Benson Kipruto (Kenya) – 2:02:16
John Korir (Kenya) – 2:02:24
Milkesa Mengesha (Ethiopia) – 2:03:17
Cybrian Kotut (Kenya) – 2:03:22
Abdi Nageeye (Netherlands) – 2:04:20
Lemi Berhanu (Ethiopia) – 2:04:33
Hailemaryam Kiros (Ethiopia) – 2:04:35
Alex Masai (Kenya) – 2:04:37
Alphonce Felix Simbu (Tanzania) – 2:04:38
Mohamed Esa (Ethiopia) – 2:04:39
Zouhair Talbi (USA) – 2:05:45
Richard Ringer (Germany) – 2:05:46
Sondre Nordstad Moen (Norway) 2:05:48
Galen Rupp (USA) – 2:06:07
Tebello Ramakongoana (Lesotho) – 2:06:18
Hendrik Pfeiffer (Germany) – 2:06:45
Rory Linkletter (Canada) – 2:06:49
Clayton Young (USA) – 2:07:04
Tsegay Weldlibanos (Eritrea) – 2:07:35
Patrick Tiernan (Australia) – 2:07:45
Ryan Ford (USA) – 2:08:00
CJ Albertson (USA) – 2:08:17
Yemane Haileselassie (Eritrea) – 2:08:25
Alex Maier (USA) – 2:08:33
Amaury Paquet (Belgium) 2:08:44
Sam Chelanga (USA) – 2:08:50
Ser-od Bat-Ochir (Mongolia) – 2:08:50
Wesley Kiptoo (USA) – 2:08:54
Ben Preisner (canada) – 2:08:58
Segundo Jami (Ecuador) – 2:09:05
Turner Wiley (USA) – 2:09:27
Colin Bennie (USA) – 2:09:38
Haftu Knight (USA) – 2:09:38
Charles Hicks (USA) – 2:09:59
Tiidrek Nurme (Estonia) – 2:10:02
Nick Hauger (USA) – 2:10:18
Joe Klecker (USA) – 2:10:37
Chris Maxon (USA) – 2:10:55
Juan Luis Barrios (Mexico) – 2:10:55
Jacob Thomson (USA) – 2:10:56
Thijs Nijhuis (Denmark) – 2:10:57
Barry Keane (Ireland) – 2:11:31
Jason Weitzel (USA) – 2:11:45
Murphy Smith (USA) – 2:11:59
Charlie Sweeney (USA) – 2:12:00
Robert Miranda (USA) – 2:12:07
Matias Silva (Chile) – 2:12:48
Ryan Johnson (USA) – 2:12:58
Martin Olesen (Denmark) – 2:13:17
Ben Olson (USA) – 2:13:25
Ryan Eiler (USA) – 2:13:36
Primoz Kobe (Slovenia) – 2:13:36
Jack Mastandrea (USA) – 2:14:02
Jonathan Phillips (USA) – 2:14:11
Lars Dewall (USA) – 2:14:20
Garret Lee (USA) – 2:14:28
Esteban Trujillo (USA) – 2:14:32
Kristoffer Mugrage (USA) – 2:15:01
Edward Mulder (USA) – 2:15:07
Michael Ottesen (USA) – 2:15:21
Charlie Lawrence (USA) – 2:16:10
Prescott Leach (USA) – 2:17:29
Meng-Tsung S Chu (Taipei) – 2:19:36
Aaron Metler (USA) – 2:19:48
Petter Engdahl (Sweden) – Debut
Nicholas Kipkorir (Kenya) – Debut
Women’s elite field
Sharon Lokedi (Kenya) – 2:17:22
Irine Cheptai (Kenya) – 2:17:51
Workenesh Edesa (Ethiopia) – 2:17:55
Loice Chemnung (Kenya) – 2:18:24
Bedatu Hirpa (Ethiopia) – 2:18:27
Emily Sisson (USA) – 2:18:29
Mary Ngugi-Cooper (Kenya) – 2:19:26
Sara Hall (USA) – 2:20:32
Calli Hauger-Thackery (Great Britain) – 2:21:24
Susanna Sullivan (USA) – 2:21:56
Fiona O’Keeffe (USA) – 2:22:10
Mao Uesugi (Japan) 2:22:11
Jess McClain (USA) – 2:22:43
Isobel Batt-Doyle (Australia) – 2:22:59
Lisa Weightman (Australia) – 2:23:15
Annie Frisbie (USA) – 2:23:21
Mercy Chelangat (Kenya) – 2:23:33
Dakotah Popehn (USA) – 2:24:20
Amanda Vestri (USA) – 2:25:40
Paige Wood (USA) – 2:26:02
Stephanie Bruce (USA) – 2:27:47
Madey Dickson (USA) – 2:28:57
Zaida Ramos (Peru) – 2:29:49
Elena Hayday (USA) – 2:30:51
Carrie Ellwood (USA) – 2:31:51
Diana Bogantes (Costa Rica) – 2:32:08
Monica Hebner (USA) – 2:32:40
Katie Florio (USA) – 2:32:44
Breanna Sieracki (USA) – 2:32:53
Carolyn Buchanan (Canada) – 2:32:54
Marybeth Chelanga (USA) – 2:33:33
Elizabeth Chikotas (USA) – 2:33:57
Ava Crean (Ireland) – 2:34:12
Marte Maehlum-Johansen (Norway) – 2:34:54
Megan O’Neil (USA) – 2:34:55
Maria Lindberg (USA) – 2:34:59
Julia Vasquez (USA) – 2:35:58
Madeline Block (USA) – 2:36:28
Alana Levy (USA) – 2:36:53
Isabel Tortorella (USA) – 2:37:07
Caitlin McGinley (USA) – 2:37:12
Erin Del Giudice (USA) – 2:37:36
Teagan Robertson (Canada) – 2:37:51
Cara Udvadia (USA) – 2:38:25
Elizabeth Reichert (USA) – 2:38:49
Marissa Lenger (USA) – 2:38:51
Cassandra de Winter (Canada) – 2:39:52
Hannah Olde Loohuis (Netherlands) – 2:40:39
Leanne Klassen (Canada) – 2:40:56
Karen Bertasso (USA) – 2:41:15
Polly Cunes (Canada) – 2:41:27
