Kenya’s Hellen Obiri is set to defend her Boston Marathon title against a formidable field in the World Athletics Platinum Label road race scheduled for Monday.
Obiri, renowned as the only woman in history to clinch senior world titles indoors, outdoors, and at cross country, made her marathon debut in New York back in 2022, clocking a noteworthy 2:25:49.
Hellen Obiri’s PB
This timing stands as her official personal best, considering performances in Boston are not record-eligible.
Her dominance continued as she conquered Boston’s downhill course five months later, finishing in a remarkable 2:21:38. Subsequently, she triumphed in a strategic race in New York towards the end of 2023, completing the course in 2:27:23.
Though her sole race this year was in January at the Houston Half Marathon, where she secured second place with a time of 1:06:07, Obiri is eager to extend her winning streak in marathons, having claimed victory in her past two outings. As a two-time world 5000m champion, her pursuit of a third consecutive marathon win on Monday is fueled by her competitive spirit.
Ethiopia’s Tadu Teshome and Hiwot Gebrekidan present strong competition, boasting sub-2:18 personal bests achieved in Valencia in recent years. Teshome, coming off a sixth-place finish at the Shanghai Marathon in November with a time of 2:25:05, seeks to improve upon her previous best of 2:17:36 set in Valencia. Gebrekidan, who finished eighth in Boston last year before securing third place in Valencia with a personal best of 2:17:59, aims to showcase her prowess once again.
The women’s field also features notable Ethiopian contenders such as Senbere Teferi, a silver medallist at the 2015 world 5000m championships, and Ababel Yeshaneh, a former world half marathon record-holder and podium finisher in prestigious marathons like Boston, New York, and Chicago.
Hellen Obiri’s counterparts’
Joining Obiri are three other past Boston Marathon champions: Edna Kiplagat, Caroline Rotich, and Desiree Linden. Kiplagat, a two-time winner, boasts a personal best of 2:19:50 and will be making her seventh appearance at the event. Notable Kenyan athletes including Judith Korir, Sharon Lokedi, Helah Kiprop, and Mary Ngugi-Cooper also add depth to the field.
Moroccan athlete Fatima Gardadi, a surprise bronze medallist at the world championships in Budapest last year, enters her first World Marathon Majors race with a strong pedigree, having previously triumphed in Marrakech and Rabat. Her personal best of 2:24:12, achieved in Xiamen earlier this year, marks her as a contender to watch.
The American contingent, led by Linden and Rotich, includes notable athletes such as Sara Hall, Emma Bates, and Jenny Simpson, the former world 1500m champion who made her marathon debut at the US Olympic Trials. Despite her earlier setback, Simpson remains determined to leverage her endurance fitness in pursuit of success in Boston.
Women
Tadu Teshome (ETH) 2:17:36
Hiwot Gebrekidan (ETH) 2:17:59
Judith Korir (KEN) 2:18:20
Meseret Belete (ETH) 2:18:21
Tiruye Mesfin (ETH) 2:18:47
Worknesh Edesa (ETH) 2:18:51
Senbere Teferi (ETH) 2:19:21
Dera Dida (ETH) 2:19:24
Edna Kiplagat (KEN) 2:19:50
Mary Ngugi-Cooper (KEN) 2:20:22
Sara Hall (USA) 2:20:32
Ababel Yeshaneh (ETH) 2:20:51
Vibian Chepkirui (KEN) 2:20:59
Siranesh Yirga (ETH) 2:21:08
Helah Kiprop (KEN) 2:21:27
Buze Diriba (ETH) 2:23:11
Emma Bates (USA) 2:23:18
Caroline Rotich (USA) 2:23:22
Sharon Lokedi (KEN) 2:23:23
Fatima Gardadi (MAR) 2:24:12
Angie Orjuela (COL) 2:25:35
Fabienne Konigstein (GER) 2:25:48
Hellen Obiri (KEN) 2:25:49
Desiree Linden (USA) 2:25:55
Dominique Scott (RSA) 2:27:31
Jenny Simpson (USA) n/a
