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Boston Marathon 2025: Sharon Lokedi and John Korir win a historic edition
This Monday, April 21st, the Boston Marathon delivered a memorable spectacle with outstanding performances. Kenyan Sharon Lokedi won the race in 2:17:22 (a course record) after an epic duel with double title-holder Hellen Obiri. John Korir made a remarkable comeback after a major fall at the start and dominated the race with a time of 2:04:45.
Ideal conditions in Boston? It’s almost miraculous. Therefore, yesterday morning, with temperatures at 8°C and virtually no wind, the 28,928 runners at the start wouldn’t let this opportunity pass. For this 129th edition, the elite lineup was particularly impressive: ten men had personal bests under 2:06, and six women under 2:20. But in Boston, the clock isn’t all that matters. It’s a challenging, unforgiving course that tests every runner—a race that reveals true champions.
| Sharon Lokedi, the new queen of Boston
Kenyan Sharon Lokedi made a significant impact in Boston. After finishing second last year, she was eager to take her revenge. She did it with style. An impressive time of 2:17:22, a new course record and a new personal best for the woman who also won the New York Marathon in 2022. She denied her compatriot Hellen Obiri a historic triple win.
Right from the start, a group of five athletes set a blistering pace, passing the half-marathon mark in 1:08:46. The lead pack narrowed as they approached the 30-kilometer mark, with the final duel between Sharon Lokedi and Hellen Obiri unfolding in the streets of Boston.
In the last kilometer, Lokedi decisively left Obiri behind. She displayed impressive freshness on Boylston Street, the legendary final straight of the race, and crossed the finish line amidst an electrifying atmosphere.
This victory earned her a prize of $200,000 ($150,000 for the win + $50,000 for the course record)!
Hellen Obiri, double world champion in the 5000m and double title-holder in Boston, finished second in 2:17:41, ahead of Ethiopian Yalemzerf Yehualaw (2:18:06). American Jess McClain, seventh in 2:22:43, achieved the best national performance.
Also noteworthy was the impressive performance by Desiree Linden, who completed the course in 2:26:19. At 41, the American ran her last Boston Marathon in her professional career, an event she had marked forever by winning the title in 2018.
| John Korir dominates the race
In the men’s category, a strong group of 15 runners set a high pace, passing the half in 1:01:52. The suspense lasted until the 32nd kilometer, when Kenyan John Korir launched a devastating attack just before the famous “Heartbreak Hill.” With a 10 km section in 28:45 on the most hilly part of the course (30-40 km), he literally blew apart the lead group. Simply astonishing. Once in the thrilling atmosphere of Boylston Street, 800 meters from the finish, he frequently looked back, sensing the threat closing in, but the Kenyan athlete held strong until the end. He crossed the finish line in 2:04:45, the second-fastest time in Boston Marathon history. The story is compelling: he is the second in his family to win this historic title, following his brother Wesley Korir’s victory in 2012.
Alphonce Felix Simbu (Tanzania) and CyBrian Kotut (Kenya) completed the podium in a sprint finish in 2:05:04. In this battle for the podium, American Conner Mantz finished fourth, just four seconds behind, with a fantastic time of 2:05:08, a new personal best and the second-fastest American time in this legendary race. Mantz was eager to perform better, but one thing is certain: his time will come.
For Korir, this victory is redemption for his previous participations in Boston, where he finished 4th (2024) and 9th (2023), and confirms his status as a champion in the classic distance after his victory in Chicago in 2024. After a fall at the start, his tactical awareness and determination allowed him to deliver a high-level performance to secure this victory.
| Highlights: emotions and inspiring performances
Boston always brings its share of inspiring stories. Paula Radcliffe, a legend of British athletics, completed her collection of trophies by earning the finisher’s medal from the 6 Majors. In 2025, at age 51, she decided to lace up her running shoes again for this final challenge. After finishing Tokyo in February, she conquered Boston surrounded by thousands of passionate runners. A beautiful demonstration of how the marathon remains a unique bond between the world’s elite and amateur runners.
Beyond the elites, this edition was filled with emotion. The start was given in a historic atmosphere with a nod to the 250th anniversary of Patriots’ Day, celebrating the first battle of the American Revolution. Swiss Marcel Hug achieved an 8th victory in the wheelchair category (1:21:34), following in the footsteps of Bob Hall, a pioneer in parasports, whose 50th anniversary of the first official participation was commemorated. In the women’s wheelchair race, American Susannah Scaroni staged a comeback, winning with a strategic race and decisive attack before Newton’s hills.
On the French side, Dorian Louvet, engaged in his “Miles of Discovery” project, courageously crossed the finish line in 2:33:41. The former “Koh-Lanta” contestant shared an inspiring journey, reflecting the beauty of his challenge and personal achievement in this legendary marathon. He will be at the starting line for the London Marathon this Sunday, April 27, 2025.
The Boston Marathon 2025 lived up to its legend. Records shattered, intense emotions, collective enthusiasm: this edition gathered nearly 29,000 runners in a unique atmosphere. Between elites and amateurs, everyone wrote their own story. With the dazzling victories of Sharon Lokedi and John Korir, Boston once again confirms that it is not just a marathon but a magical experience where champions emerge.
