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Hellen Obiri is set to defend her title in the Boston Marathon during the World Athletics Platinum Label road race on April 15.

Obiri will face her toughest rivals on the London course, which include her compatriot Edna Kiplagat, Ethiopia’s Worknesh Degefa, the 2019 winner, and Victor Desiree Linden, who is the 2019 victor.

Kisii Express, who is the two-time world 5000m champion, is the only woman in history to have won senior world titles indoors, outdoors, and at cross country.

She made her marathon debut in New York in 2022 when she clocked 2:25:49, a time that remains her personal best. The Kenyan star won the Boston Marathon in 2:21:38 five months later, before she conquered a tactical New York race at the end of 2023 in 2:27:23.

“I am excited to return to the 2024 Boston Marathon to try to defend my title. Boston is a historic race, and I would like to add my name further to its history on April 15.

“Winning such a historic marathon with my family waiting at the finish line was an amazing experience,” Obiri, a two-time Olympic silver medallist, said.

Obiri’s teammates

Kiplagat, 44, is one of the most experienced runners in the field, but the 2017 and 2021 champion will have to pull her socks when she faces ambitious, trophy-hungry young rivals in April.

She has a personal best of 2:19:50 and finished seventh at the New York Marathon two months ago.

Judith Korir, a 2022 world marathon silver medallist, 2022 New York champion Sharon Lokedi, 2015 world silver medallist Helah Kiprop, and 2014 world half marathon silver medallist Mary Ngugi-Cooper will be Kenya’s other flagbearers in the event.

Ethiopia’s Degefa is the fastest among the entrants, and that points out how difficult the race could be for the Kenyan unit.

Degefa won her marathon debut in Dubai in 2017, then regained that title in 2020, having also won in Boston in 2019 in between those triumphs.

Two maternity leaves meant that Degefa did not participate in any races in 2021 and 2022 before she returned to action last year, where she won the Valencia Marathon with a personal best of 2:15:51.

Tadu Teshome and Hiwot Gebrekidan have been listed in the Ethiopian squad, both of whom have set sub-2:18 personal bests in Valencia in recent years.

Elite women’s field

Worknesh Degefa (ETH) 2:15:51
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
Zeineba Yimer (ETH) 2:19:07
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
Nazret Weldu Gebrehiwet (ERI) 2:20:29
Ababel Yeshaneh (ETH) 2:20:51
Vibian Chepkirui (KEN) 2:20:59
Helah Kiprop (KEN) 2:21:27
Buze Diriba (ETH) 2:23:11
Emma Bates (USA) 2:23:18
Sharon Lokedi (KEN) 2:23:23
Malindi Elmore (CAN) 2:23:30
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
Jackie Gaughan (USA) 2:27:08
Dominique Scott (RSA) 2:27:31