Tough tests for Korir in Boston Marathon title defense
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Reading Time: 3min | Sat. 18.04.26. | 12:57
The field is headlined by Olympic bronze medalist Benson Kipruto, the first man in history to win all three of the US-based Abbott World Marathon Major races
John Korir and Sharon Lokedi will defend their titles at the Boston Marathon, taking on a field that includes global champions and major marathon winners at the race on Monday 20, April.
Korir’s 2:04.45 victory in Boston last year came just six months after he triumphed at the 2024 Chicago Marathon in 2:02:44. The Kenyan capped his 2025 season with victory at the Valencia Marathon, clocking a PB of 2:02:24.
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It means he has won the past three marathons he has completed. Since his Valencia triumph in December, he has raced just once, winning at the Sirikwa Classic Cross Country against a strong domestic field.
But the competition in Boston will be even tougher as he’ll be reunited with the two men who joined him on the podium in the US city last year.
Tanzania’s Alphonce Simbu finished just 19 seconds behind Korir in Boston last year, but a few months later he went on to achieve the biggest triumph of his career to date as he won the marathon at the World Championships in Tokyo.
Boston will be Simbu’s first marathon since the World Championships, but he showed good form in December when finishing second over 25km in Kolkata and he followed it with a third-place finish at the Burj2Burj Half Marathon in February.
Kenya’s Cybrian Kotut finished just behind Simbu in Boston last year. His only competitive outing since then was at the Chicago Marathon last October, which he didn’t finish. He is a 2:03.22 performer at his best, though, so cannot be ignored.
Kenya’s Benson Kipruto, winner of the 2021 Boston Marathon, 2022 Chicago Marathon, 2024 Tokyo Marathon, and 2025 New York City Marathon, also returns to Boston. Kipruto is the first man in history to win all three of the US-based Abbott World Marathon Major races.
With a PB of 2:02.16, set when winning the 2024 Tokyo Marathon, Kipruto is also the fastest man in the field.
“Boston holds a special place in my heart, as I won my first major there in 2021 and have finished third twice,” said the Olympic bronze medallist. “I look forward to starting my 2026 season and racing a fast group of men in April.”
Meanwhile, ten years after making his Boston Marathon debut, Abdi Nageeye of the Netherlands lines up for his third Boston appearance, looking to improve on his seventh-place finish from 2018. The 2021 Olympic silver medalist and 2024 New York City Marathon winner set a PB of 2:04.20 in London last year, but then didn’t finish at the New York Marathon later in the year.
Three Ethiopians with past victories at World Marathon Majors will be on the start line: 2024 Berlin Marathon champion Milkesa Mengesha, Sydney Marathon champion Hailemaryam Kiros, and 2016 Boston Marathon champion Lemi Berhanu.
Alex Masai, third in Chicago last year in 2:04.37, will make his Boston debut. Zouhair Talbi, winner of the Houston Marathon earlier this year, leads the US contingent alongside two-time Olympic medalist Galen Rupp, Clayton Young and CJ Albertson.
Men's Elite Field
Benson Kipruto (KEN) 2:02:16
John Korir (KEN) 2:02:24
Milkesa Mengesha (ETH) 2:03:17
Cybrian Kotut (KEN) 2:03:22
Abdi Nageeye (NED) 2:04:20
Lemi Berhanu (ETH) 2:04:33
Hailemaryam Kiros (ETH) 2:04:35
Alex Masai (KEN) 2:04:37
Alphonce Felix Simbu (TAN) 2:04:38
Mohamed Esa (ETH) 2:04:39
Zouhair Talbi (MAR/USA) 2:05:45
Richard Ringer (GER) 2:05:46
Sondre Moen (NOR) 2:05:48
Galen Rupp (USA) 2:06:07
Tebello Ramakongoana (LES) 2:06:18
Hendrik Pfeiffer (GER) 2:06:45
Rory Linkletter (CAN) 2:06:49
Tsegay Weldibanos (ERI) 2:07:35
Patrick Tiernan (AUS) 2:07:45
Clayton Young (USA) 2:08:00
CJ Albertson (USA) 2:08:17
Yemane Haileselassie (ERI) 2:08:25