Kenyan duo reveal targets ahead of Boston Marathon return

Kenya’s duo of John Korir and Sharon Lokedi say they are ready to defend their Boston Marathon titles when they rock up for next year’s race on 20 April 2026.

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The two, who scooped the elite men’s and women’s marathon titles earlier this year, were on Friday, 12 December confirmed as the first names to be taking part in next year’s event, which will be marking its 130th anniversary.

Korir, fresh from winning the Valencia Marathon last Sunday, overcame a fall at the start of this year’s Boston marathon to win in a time of 2:04.45, which was recorded as the third fastest time in the event’s history.

By claiming the olive wreath, Korir joined his brother Wesley (2012 champion) to become the first set of siblings to win the Boston Marathon.

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On going back to compete on the roads between Hopkinton and Boston, Korir told race organizers: “Last year’s race was a very meaningful win for me and my family, and I look forward to coming back to Boston again. I aim to finish first and run fast again in April.”

Lokedi, who came runner-up in November’s New York Marathon, had similar targets of returning back to the place she broke a course record in, timing a blistering 2:17.22.

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“Boston in 2025 was beyond expectations,” the two-time major marathon winner said. “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. We are already training hard to run it back in 2026.”

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