Sharon Lokedi on motivation for beating Hellen Obiri at Boston Marathon
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Reading Time: 3min | Tue. 29.04.25. | 07:00
The impressive run saw her not only claim the victory, but also shave more than 2 1/2 minutes off the old women’s record of 2:19:59, which was set by Buzunesh Deba in 2014
2025 Boston Marathon champion Sharon Lokedi has opened up on her source of motivation behind the win and, most importantly, getting the better of her longtime rival Hellen Obiri.
On a bright Patriots’ Day in Massachusetts, Lokedi crossed the finish line of the 129th Boston Marathon in 2:17:22.
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The impressive run saw her not only claim the victory, but also shave more than 2 1/2 minutes off the old women’s record of 2:19:59, which was set by Buzunesh Deba in 2014.
But as impressive as the time was, it was what happened next that stole hearts.
Lokedi ran straight into the arms of her waiting mother, Rose Lokedi, embracing her in a moment full of raw emotion.
Speaking after the race, Lokedi explained the significance of her mother’s physical presence at the race.
“She is my inspiration. She is always there supporting me, so it was good to win and be here to see all that. It feels so good,” she said to Boston.com.
The 2022 New York City Marathon champion also pointed out how nervous she was before the race.
She was right to be nervous, as Obiri, the defending champion, was in the mix.
Lokedi had been chasing her shadow for a while.
“We kept running, and I’m always second to her. And today I was like, there’s no way. She was right behind me, and we all just fought and wanted this so bad,” she explained.
She further revealed that the race was about making her mother proud and showing gratitude to those who have supported her throughout the journey.
“I cannot believe I am a champion. My teammates, everyone who has been supporting me, I just want to say thank you, and thank you, Boston. It was awesome out there. I loved every part of it,” she concluded.
Leading up to the race, Mama Lokedi confessed she was a bundle of nerves.
“Before the race, I could not sleep at all. I was very anxious and apprehensive. I had spent the last three days just praying for her, because I knew it was not going to be an easy task to win. This was a tough challenge not just for her, but for all the runners,” she told Pura Vida Sports Africa.
Lokedi’s rise in the marathon scene has been steady and strong.
She stunned the world with a win at the 2022 New York City Marathon, finishing in 2:23:23 in what was her debut over the 26.2-mile distance.
Since then, she has been knocking on the door.
She finished third in New York in 2023, second in Boston in 2024.
Further, she settled for a fourth-place finish at the Paris Olympics, where she stepped in as a last-minute replacement for the Kenyan team.
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