130th Boston Marathon presented by Bank of America Featured Course Records and Back-to-Back Champions
Courtesy Images and Results Available Here; Credit B.A.A.
Media Resources Available Here
BOSTON – If moments were made to be met and records were made to be broken, the professional athlete field of the 130th Boston Marathon presented by Bank of America emphatically, dramatically and historically rose to the challenge, led by a mind-boggling course record time of 2:01:52 by defending champion John Korir of Kenya, obliterating Geoffrey Mutai’s seemingly untouchable time of 2:03:02 from 2011.
Korir was not the only repeat winner: in the women’s race, 2025 champion Sharon Lokedi of Kenya broke the tape in 2:18:51, the second-fastest winning time in race history after her own mark of 2:17:22 set last year.
And in the wheelchair division, Marcel Hug of Switzerland clocked in at 1:16:06, winning for the ninth time, with Eden Rainbow-Cooper of Great Britain notching her second Boston win in the past three years, in 1:30:51.
Taking advantage of almost-ideal conditions – 45 degrees F at the start, with a slight tailwind – the men’s open division went out fast from the gun, running near or ahead of course-record pace every mile. At halfway, 2016 Boston Marathon champion Lemi Berhanu led in an unprecedented 1:01:43, soon to be overtaken by a surging Milkesa Mengesha of Ethiopia, with Korir in immediate and quick pursuit.
With Heartbreak Hill in view, Korir made his own move; by 20 miles he’d built a lead that read 7 seconds by the clock but was insurmountable by its feel. “We just tried to catch him, but he went, so we didn’t,” said Alphonce Felix Simbu of Tanzania, who instead dueled with 2021 Boston champion Benson Kipruto of Kenya up Boylston Street. Simbu would finish as runner-up for the second consecutive year, with Kipruto coming in third, but their respective times of 2:02:47 and 2:02:50 were also faster than the previous course record.
“I knew I would defend my title, but I didn’t know I would run that fast,” said the 29-year-old Korir, who was competing here for the fourth time. “For many years, my mind was set on the course record, [of 2:03:02, set by Geoffrey Mutai in 2011], and I thank God that I have achieved it now.”
In the women’s race, American Carrie Ellwood led a pack of 16 through the halfway mark in 1:11:02; at 20 miles, nine women still remained. It was near the top of Heartbreak Hill that Lokedi began to assert herself, and by 35K only countrywomen Loice Chemnung, Irine Cheptai and Mary Ngugi-Cooper accompanied her.
But not for long: by Mile 23, Lokedi – in a borrowed watch, after realizing on the bus to the start line that she had forgotten hers – was in control, her 8-second lead over Boston rookie Chemnung looking secure.
“I just had to be patient,” said the 32-year-old repeat champion of the race’s early miles. “After I broke, I was like ‘I don’t know what I’m gonna do, but I’m just gonna follow the car.”
Chemnung would finish second in 2:19:35 and Ngugi-Cooper in 2:20:07, moving to #5 and #6 on the race’s all-time list.
It was an historic day for Americans in both the men’s and women’s races, with Zouhair Talbi clocking 2:03:45 and Jessica McClain crossing the line in 2:20:49 for the fastest times by an American ever on this course. Both finished fifth.
Both wheelchair races were decided early, with Rainbow-Cooper building a 24-second lead over Switzerland’s Catherine DeBrunner by 5K that she would never relinquish. DeBrunner would finish second in 1:32:59, with American Tatyana McFadden third in 1:36:43.
For Hug, his ninth victory here leaves him only one short of Ernst van Dyk’s all-time mark of 10. The perennial champion won by 6:38 over runner-up Daniel Romanchuk (1:22:44), with Jetze Plat of the Netherlands third in 1:24:13.
“Every single win here in Boston is really something special, very unique, and means a lot to me,” said the 40-year-old Hug. “And now to win nine times is even more incredible.”
Results search, athlete tracking and leaderboards are available here.
In the Para Athletics Divisions, the following champions were crowned:
T11/T12 (Vision impairment) – Jessie Waterman, 3:50:41 / Wajdi Boukhili, 2:23:39
T13 (Vision impairment) – Caitlin Lee, 3:44:17 / Jake Craypo, 2:46:18
T20 (Intellectual impairment) – Esmee Anne De Meulmeester, 3:20:15 / Thomas Cantara, 2:33:45
T35-T38 (Coordination impairment) – Cristina Burbach, 3:43:54 / Deon Kenzie 2:58:04
T45-T47 (Upper-limb impairment) – Caroline Reilly, 3:29:49 /Matthew Felton, 2:53:47
T61/T63/T43 (Lower-limb impairment) – Meghan Bradshaw, 4:03:37 / Richard Whitehead, 2:50:50
T62/T64; T42/T44 (Lower-limb impairment) – Kelly Bruno, 3:14:09 / Marko Cheseto Lemtukei, 2:56:36
Notable Participants Finish Times:
- Bryan Arenales, 2025 Love Island Season 7 winner – 4:17:35
- Amby Burfoot, 1968 Boston Marathon Champion – 5:17:16
- Zdeno Chara, former Boston Bruins captain – 3:18:13
- Chelsea Clinton, author and advocate – 3:48:12
- Jeff DaRosa, musician, Dropkick Murphys – 3:44:10
- Laura Green, running comedian – 3:52:21
- Chris Herren, former Boston Celtics player – 5:17:23
- Kristine Lilly (Heavey), former Team USA soccer player – 5:22:02
- Des Linden, 2018 Boston Marathon Champion – 2:36:24
- Suni Williams, Astronaut and trailblazer – 5:53:36
Live tracking for participants and live leaderboards can be found at both www.baa.org and within the Boston Marathon Racing App. Visit our Boston Marathon Media Resources page for transcripts, results, and additional event information.
CHAMPIONS MEDIA AVAILABILITY – TUESDAY, APRIL 21
Boston Marathon Champions’ Press Conference | 10:00 a.m. | Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel
This press conference will feature champions of the 130th Boston Marathon and other notable finishers, as well as officials from the Boston Athletic Association.
B.A.A. Mission: Established in 1887, the Boston Athletic Association is a non-profit organization with a mission of promoting a healthy lifestyle through sports, especially running.
B.A.A. Vision: Committed to a world where all people can access and benefit from running and an active lifestyle.
ABOUT THE BOSTON ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION (B.A.A.)
Established in 1887, the Boston Athletic Association is a non-profit organization with a mission of promoting a healthy lifestyle through sports, especially running. The B.A.A. manages the Boston Marathon, and supports comprehensive charity, youth, and year-round programming. The 130th Boston Marathon took place on Monday, April 20, 2026.
The Boston Marathon is part of the Abbott World Marathon Majors, along with international marathons in Tokyo, London, Sydney, Berlin, Chicago, and New York City. For more information on the B.A.A., please visit www.baa.org.
MEDIA CONTACTS
Chris Lotsbom
Director of Race Communications & Media
Celia Oswitch
Manager of Communications