Parrott, Koopmeiners shine as AZ Alkmaar wins KNVB Cup after 13 years AZ Alkmaar delivered a dominant performance to win the Dutch Cup final on Sunday, hammering NEC ‌Nijmegen 5-1 at the Feyenoord Stadium in Rotterdam.AZ took a deserved ⁠lead after 32 minutes as left back Mees de Wit netted from close range ‌after a mazy run to the byline from left wing ‌Ro-Zangelo Daal.It added two more after ‌the ⁠break from Sven Mijnans in ⁠the 67th minute and Peer Koopmeiners six minutes after that.NEC pulled one back in the 78th minute through ‌Japanese striker Koki Ogawa.Mijnans had the ball in the net again five minutes from time but it was ‌ruled out for offside in the build-up, but at the start of stoppage time, newly-⁠capped Dutch international Kees Smit chipped NEC goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen to make it ‌4-1.There was still time for one more from Ireland international Troy Parrott five minutes into stoppage time, with his close-range shot taking a wicked deflection.It was AZ’s fifth Dutch Cup ‌final victory but first in 13 years, while NEC has now lost all six finals it has appeared ⁠in.Cup success means AZ qualifies for ⁠the league phase of next season’s Europa League. It was eliminated ‌last Thursday in the Conference League quarterfinal by Ukraine’s Shakhtar Donetsk.Published on Apr 20, 2026 #Parrott #Koopmeiners #shine #Alkmaar #wins #KNVB #Cup #years

Defending champion John Korir returns to the Boston Marathon on Monday aiming for a fourth straight marathon crown after adding victories in Chicago and Valencia last year.

The Kenyan, who overcame an early fall to clock the third-fastest time ever in Boston — with a timing of 2:04.45 — can expect a strong challenge from 2021 winner Benson Kipruto as well as Alphonce Felix Simbu and Cybrian Kotut, who finished second and third last year.

Kenya’s Kipruto, who won the New York City Marathon last year to complete his collection of all the US World Marathon Majors, is the fastest man in the field with a personal best of 2:02.16.

Simbu followed his runner-up finish in Boston, 19 seconds behind Korir, with a victory in the World Championships marathon in Tokyo.

Korir thinks the quality of the field augurs a fast race on Monday.

“I think if I had someone to push me last year, we would have been very close to the course record,” Korir, who clocked a blistering 2:02:24 in Valencia in December, told the Boston Globe.

“If everything goes good this year, it is in my mind to go for it,” added the Kenyan, who is vying to become the first man to repeat as champion since Evans Chebet won in 2022 and 2023.

Women’s champion Sharon Lokedi is also going for a repeat a year after she clocked 2:17:22 to slice more than two minutes off the course record.

She ended the two-year reign of fellow Kenyan Hellen Obiri and said her strategy this year will be much the same.

“I believe in consistency, and what works is what I’ve always been doing,” said Lokedi, who also won the New York City Marathon in November.

Lokedi’s top challengers include fellow Kenyan Irine Cheptai, who was fourth in Boston last year, and Ethiopian Workenesh Edesa, who won the Osaka and Hamburg marathons last year.

Published on Apr 20, 2026

#Boston #Marathon #Korir #Lokedi #defend #titles #USA">

Boston Marathon 2026 — Korir, Lokedi look to defend titles in USA Defending champion John Korir returns to the Boston Marathon on Monday aiming for a fourth straight marathon crown after adding victories in Chicago and Valencia last year.The Kenyan, who overcame an early fall to clock the third-fastest time ever in Boston — with a timing of 2:04.45 — can expect a strong challenge from 2021 winner Benson Kipruto as well as Alphonce Felix Simbu and Cybrian Kotut, who finished second and third last year.Kenya’s Kipruto, who won the New York City Marathon last year to complete his collection of all the US World Marathon Majors, is the fastest man in the field with a personal best of 2:02.16.Simbu followed his runner-up finish in Boston, 19 seconds behind Korir, with a victory in the World Championships marathon in Tokyo.Korir thinks the quality of the field augurs a fast race on Monday.“I think if I had someone to push me last year, we would have been very close to the course record,” Korir, who clocked a blistering 2:02:24 in Valencia in December, told the Boston Globe.“If everything goes good this year, it is in my mind to go for it,” added the Kenyan, who is vying to become the first man to repeat as champion since Evans Chebet won in 2022 and 2023.Women’s champion Sharon Lokedi is also going for a repeat a year after she clocked 2:17:22 to slice more than two minutes off the course record.She ended the two-year reign of fellow Kenyan Hellen Obiri and said her strategy this year will be much the same.“I believe in consistency, and what works is what I’ve always been doing,” said Lokedi, who also won the New York City Marathon in November.Lokedi’s top challengers include fellow Kenyan Irine Cheptai, who was fourth in Boston last year, and Ethiopian Workenesh Edesa, who won the Osaka and Hamburg marathons last year.Published on Apr 20, 2026 #Boston #Marathon #Korir #Lokedi #defend #titles #USA

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Defending champion John Korir returns to the Boston Marathon on Monday aiming for a fourth straight marathon crown after adding victories in Chicago and Valencia last year.
The Kenyan, who overcame an early fall to clock the third-fastest time ever in Boston — with a timing of 2:04.45 — can expect a strong challenge from 2021 winner Benson Kipruto as well as Alphonce Felix Simbu and Cybrian Kotut, who finished second and third last year.
Kenya’s Kipruto, who won the New York City Marathon last year to complete his collection of all the US World Marathon Majors, is the fastest man in the field with a personal best of 2:02.16.
Simbu followed his runner-up finish in Boston, 19 seconds behind Korir, with a victory in the World Championships marathon in Tokyo.
Korir thinks the quality of the field augurs a fast race on Monday.
“I think if I had someone to push me last year, we would have been very close to the course record,” Korir, who clocked a blistering 2:02:24 in Valencia in December, told the Boston Globe.
“If everything goes good this year, it is in my mind to go for it,” added the Kenyan, who is vying to become the first man to repeat as champion since Evans Chebet won in 2022 and 2023.
Women’s champion Sharon Lokedi is also going for a repeat a year after she clocked 2:17:22 to slice more than two minutes off the course record.
She ended the two-year reign of fellow Kenyan Hellen Obiri and said her strategy this year will be much the same.
“I believe in consistency, and what works is what I’ve always been doing,” said Lokedi, who also won the New York City Marathon in November.
Lokedi’s top challengers include fellow Kenyan Irine Cheptai, who was fourth in Boston last year, and Ethiopian Workenesh Edesa, who won the Osaka and Hamburg marathons last year.
Published on Apr 20, 2026

#Boston #Marathon #Korir #Lokedi #defend #titles #USA">Boston Marathon 2026 — Korir, Lokedi look to defend titles in USA