Sharon Lokedi will be back in a familiar position in Boston on April 20 as she returns to defend her course record-setting title from 2025 as the rest of the women’s elite field was announced on Tuesday.
Irine Cheptai, Workenesh Edesa, Magdalena Shauri and Joan Melly all have the tools to challenge Lokedi, who comes off of a solid year of racing, with her dramatic 2:17:22 win over Hellen Obiri as the highlight.
The late move to surge to for the title denied Obiri a historic third straight win in Boston but now Lokedi has an opportunity to build her own streak.
“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 in December. “We’re already training hard to run it back in 2026.”
Meanwhile, Megan Sailor, Natosha Rogers and Amanda Vestri make their Boston debuts while fellow Americans Emily Sisson, Keira D’Amato, Susanna Sullivan, Fiona O’Keeffe, Sara Hall, Jess McClain and Erika Kemp look to be the one of first U.S. women to win the race since Des Linden’s stunning victory in 2018.
Sisson, O’Keeffe and Dakotah Popehn represent the entire 2024 U.S. Olympic Marathon team while Sullivan, McClain and Erika Kemp were the women’s U.S. world championships marathon squad in Tokyo last September.
The women’s wheelchair division will have its share of notables, as defending champion Susannah Scaroni will be back and boasting 2025 wins in Boston, Chicago, New York, and Sydney in a dominant year that she looks to carry over to 2026.
Scaroni is set to be joined by Catherine Debrunner, Tatyana McFadden and Manuela Schär, who will be her main challenges as the race winds down to its final moments.
In addition to Lokedi and Scaroni returning, in December it was revealed that all of last year’s champions will be in full title defense in Boston in April. Men’s winner John Korir will be back in the mix for another podium performance while men’s wheelchair champion Marcel Hug looks for his ninth win on the course.
“The 130th edition of the Boston Marathon presented by Bank of America will feature unrivaled depth and head-to-head racing that’ll be exciting from start to finish,” Mary Kate Shea, Boston Athletic Association chief operating officer said in a statement. “The strength of the American field, combined with the international field’s experience, is setting the stage for a clash that could result in records and sprint finishes on Boylston Street. The best of the best have circled the Boston Marathon on their calendar.”
Women’s elite field
Sharon Lokedi (Kenya) – 2:17:22
Irine Cheptai (Kenya) – 2:17:51
Workenesh Edesa (Ethiopia) – 2:17:55
Magdalena Shauri (Tanzania) – 2:18:03
Joan Melly (Romania) – 2:18:04
Loice Chemnung (Keny) – 2:18:24
Bedatu Hirpa (Ethiopia) – 2:18:27
Emily Sisson (USA) – 2:18:29
Vivian Cheruiyot (Kenya) – 2:18:31
Keira D’Amato (USA) – 2:19:12
Mary Ngugi-Cooper (Kenya) – 2:19:26
Sara Hall (USA) – 2:20:32
Gadise Mulu (Ethiopia) – 2:20:59
Calli Hauger-Thackery (Great Britain) – 2:21:24
Fikrte Wereta (Ethiopia) – 2:21:32
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
Erika Kemp (USA) – 2:22:56
Isobel Batt-Doyle (Australia) – 2:22:59
Lisa Weightman (Australia) – 2:23:15
Annie Frisbie (USA) – 2:23:21
Natosha Rogers (USA) – 2:23:28
Mercy Chelangat (Kenya) – 2:23:33
Dakotah Popehn (USA) – 2:24:20
Gabi Rooker (USA) – 2:24:29
Leanne Pompeani (Australia) – 2:24:47
Megan Sailor (USA) – 2:25:17
Amanda Vestri (USA) – 2:25:40
Paige Wood (USA) – 2:26:02
Stephanie Bruce (USA) – 2:27:47
Madey Dickson (USA) – 2:28:57
Kodi Kleven (USA) – 2:29:18
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
Katie Florio (USA) – 2:32:44
Katie Kellner (USA) – 2:32:48
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
Abbie McNulty Bennie (USA) – 2:34:53
Marte Maehlum-Johansen (Norway) – 2:34:54
Megan O’Neil (USA) – 2:34:55
Maria Lindberg (USA) – 2:34:59
Felicia Pasadyn (USA) – 2:35:17
Madeline Block (USA) – 2:36:28
Caitlin McGinley (USA) – 2:37:12
Katie McMenamin (USA) – 2:37:20
Erin Del Giudice (USA) – 2:37:36
Teagan Robertson (Canada) – 2:37:51
Emilee Risteen (USA) – 2:38:46
Elizabeth Reichert (USA) – 2:38:49
Marissa Lenger (USA) – 2:38:51
Molly D Colwell (USA) – 2:39:27
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
Marije Geurtsen (Netherlands) – 2:42:45
