Evans Chebet is eyeing history as he heads to Boston with the goal of becoming the first man since Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot in 2008 to clinch three consecutive Boston Marathon titles.
This exclusive club includes only four men in total, with Clarence DeMar, Bill Rodgers, and Cosmas Ndeti preceding Cheruiyot’s triumphant streak.
Evans Chebet’s run
Chebet’s impressive record speaks for itself: he secured victory in Boston in 2022 with a time of 2:06:51 and successfully defended his title last year in 2:05:54, marking his sixth win in his last seven marathons.
However, Chebet faces stiff competition from Sisay Lemma, the fastest man in the field. Lemma’s remarkable performance in Valencia last December, where he clocked 2:01:48, earned him the title of the fourth-fastest man in marathon history
Despite his previous challenges in Boston, including a non-finish in 2017 and a 30th place in 2019, Lemma is determined to make his mark in Monday’s race.
Gabriel Geay of Tanzania, last year’s runner-up in Boston, returns to the city with an identical personal best of 2:03:00, also achieved in Valencia.
Joining them are other contenders with sub-2:05 personal bests, including Kenya’s Cyprian Kotut, Ethiopia’s Haftu Teklu, and Shura Kitata, the London and New York Marathon runner-up in 2018.
Evans Chebet’s counterparts
Albert Korir, winner of the 2021 New York Marathon and the 2019 Houston Marathon, aims to add a Boston victory to his list of achievements.
Having finished sixth in 2022 and fourth last year in Boston, Korir is eager to secure another triumph in a third US city.
The field also features notable athletes such as former Japanese record-holder Suguru Osako, Norwegian record-holder Sondre Moen, and Morocco’s Zouhair Talbi, who clinched victory in this year’s Houston Marathon with a course record of 2:06:39.
Talbi’s fifth-place finish in Boston last year, ahead of Eliud Kipchoge, underscores his potential to contend for the title once again.
Men
Sisay Lemma (ETH) 2:01:48
Evans Chebet (KEN) 2:03:00
Gabriel Geay (TAN) 2:03:00
Cyprian Kotut (KEN) 2:04:34
Haftu Teklu (ETH) 2:04:43
Shura Kitata (ETH) 2:04:49
John Korir (KEN) 2:05:01
Mohamed Esa (ETH) 2:05:05
Suguru Osako (JPN) 2:05:29
Sondre Moen (NOR) 2:05:48
Zouhair Talbi (MAR) 2:06:39
Isaac Mpofu (ZIM) 2:06:48
Albert Korir (KEN) 2:06:57
Kento Otsu (JPN) 2:08:15
Ryoma Takeuchi (JPN) 2:08:40
Sam Chelanga (USA) 2:08:50
Segundo Jami (ECU) 2:09:05
Tsegay Tuemay (ERI) 2:09:07
Matt McDonald (USA) 2:09:49
Elkanah Kibet (USA) 2:10:02
CJ Albertson (USA) 2:10:04
David Nilsson (SWE) 2:10:09
Tristan Woodfine (CAN) 2:10:39
Yemane Haileselassie (ERI) debut
