Star girl Obiri stamps authority with Boston title defense
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Reading Time: 2min | Mon. 15.04.24. | 19:19
Sharon Lokedi and Edna Kiplagat settle for silver and bronze as Kenya dominates the women's race
Hellen Obiri has successfully defended her Boston Marathon title, leading a Kenyan podium sweep in the race held on Monday 15 April
Obiri, the only woman in history to have won senior world titles indoors, outdoors, and at cross country clocked 2:22:37 to finish ahead of compatriot, 2022 New York champion, Sharon Lokedi as Edna Kiplagat the 2017 and 2021 champion, who was making her seventh appearance third in 2:23:21.
Hellen Obiri defends her Boston Marathon crown, taking the tape on Boylston Street after a phenomenal performance.
— Abbott WMMajors (@WMMajors) April 15, 2024
The Kenyan took control of the race around mile 24 and never looked back as she claimed her 3rd Abbott World Marathon Major win. pic.twitter.com/LBxx1PsJbA
Having made her marathon debut in New York in 2022, clocking 2:25:49, a time that remains her official PB (as performances in Boston are not record-eligible), Obiri picked her first marathon major title five months later, in Boston, clocking 2:21:38, before taking victory in New York at the end of 2023 in 2:27:23.
The two-time world 5000m champion, keen to make it three wins in a row, stuck with the leading pack of about 20 runners that went through 15km in 50:58 and through the halfway mark in 1:12:33.
It was still a surprisingly big group in the stacked field as, at 23km American Desiree Linden decided to push the pace, coming from a few seconds behind the leading group.
However, the pace suddenly surged and soon Linden was no longer in the picture as Kiplagat picked up the speed, Obiri and Lokedi keeping up with the 44-year-old two-time winner.
Obiri’s track speed came to the fore as she battled Lokedi in the final kilometers, Kiplagat safely in third, finishing eight seconds ahead and being greeted by her husband and daughter at the finish line.
“I knew this would be a tough race but I was surprised at how we ran. The challenge Lokedi gave in the final kilometers was good. It was not easy but I came here to cement my place in Team Kenya at the Olympics and that kept me pushing. I also knew that my family was here watching and Kenyans had placed their faith in me and I had to pay them with such a performance,” said an exhausted but excited Obiri at the finish line.
1,2,3 sweep for Kenya in Boston🤩🤩
— TeamKenya (@OlympicsKe) April 15, 2024
🥇 Hellen Obiri 🇰🇪- 02:22:37
🥈 Sharon Lokedi 🇰🇪- 02:22:45
🥉 Edna Kiplagat 🇰🇪- 02:23:21#TeamKenya pic.twitter.com/QFDt424KFp
Leading results
Women
1 Hellen Obiri (KEN) 2:22:37
2 Sharon Lokedi (KEN) 2:22:45
3 Edna Kiplagat (KEN) 2:23:21
4 Buze Diriba (ETH) 2:24:04
5 Senbere Teferi (ETH) 2:24:04
6 Mary Ngugi-Cooper (KEN) 2:24:24
7 Workenesh Edesa (ETH) 2:24:47
8 Fatima Gardadi (MAR) 2:24:53
9 Tiruye Mesfin (ETH) 2:24:58
10 Dera Dida (ETH) 2:25:16
