Kenyan athlete Hellen Obiri, aged 34, secured her second consecutive victory at the Boston Marathon on Monday, outpacing her compatriot Sharon Lokedi, aged 30, in the closing stages of the race.
Obiri completed the marathon with an unofficial time of 2 hours and 22 minutes, 37 seconds.
Last year, Obiri triumphed in her debut marathon in Boston while transitioning from middle-distance to long-distance running. She also claimed victory at the 2023 New York City Marathon. During this year’s media briefing before Marathon Monday, Obiri expressed her identification as a marathoner.
Reflecting on the tough competition, Obiri remarked, “It was not easy because there were so many strong ladies.” She likened the competitiveness to the intense race during the Olympic trials in Kenya, emphasizing her determination to persevere until the end.
Drawing on her background as a sprinter, Obiri revealed her strategy to rely on her speed training and racing experience to push hard towards the finish line. She recounted, “I say, ‘Can I give up?’ and I say, ‘No, let me fight up to 10.’ And, I say, up to 40K, 2K to go, I am also strong, so I say let me try to push.”
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Hellen Obiri wins Boston Marathon for women for second year in a row; Lemma takes men’s crown
Hellen Obiri of Kenya secured victory in the Women’s Professional Division of the Boston Marathon for the second consecutive year.
Obiri completed the course in 2 hours, 22 minutes, and 37 seconds, marking her second triumph in the event. In 2023, she clinched the women’s division title with a time of 2 hours, 21 minutes, and 38 seconds.
In the Men’s Elite category, Sisay Lemma of Ethiopia emerged as the first runner to cross the finish line in the 128th Boston Marathon.
Lemma claimed victory in the professional men’s running division with a time of 2 hours, 6 minutes, and 17 seconds. Mohamed Esa secured second place, while Evans Chebet, aiming for his third consecutive win, finished third.
Reflecting on his performance, Lemma expressed gratitude for his redemption from last year’s setback. He mentioned, “I thank God that I was able to redeem myself from the failure of last year, and I won, so I am happy.” Despite aiming to break the course record, Lemma acknowledged the challenging terrain, stating, “My plan was to break the course record, but it’s so hilly up and down and that took a lot and it made me tired a little bit.”
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