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#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
Defending champion John Korir returns to the Boston Marathon on Monday aiming for a fourth…
Sports news
#Lokedi #aims #repeat #Boston #Marathon #win #recordbreaking #run">Lokedi aims to repeat Boston Marathon win after record-breaking run
Sharon Lokedi will attempt to become back-to-back Boston Marathon champion on Monday, with the Kenyan runner insisting the pressure of defending her title changes nothing about how she approaches the race.
The Kenyan-born runner, who shattered the women’s course record at last year’s Boston Marathon with a time of 2:17:22, taking two minutes and 37 seconds off the course record set in 2014 by Buzunesh Deba, spoke at a brand event on Friday.
“Every time you do a marathon, you think it’s going to get easier, but it never really does,” Lokedi said.
Asked about the pressure of defending her title, the 2022 New York Marathon winner was measured. “It’s always a different race. It’s always a different group of women, a different type of competition. So I just treat it like it’s a new race.”
On the mental side, she said visualisation has become a key tool. “I’ve trained well, I’ve done all I could, and I’m excited. It’s an open race — you never know — but I put myself there and hope for the best.”
For those lining up alongside her on Monday, the 32-year-old runner offered straightforward counsel on race strategy: “Just start controlled, keep a controlled pace,” and as for the nerves that build in the days before the gun fires, Lokedi reframed them simply. “It’s a good feeling because it tells you you’re ready.”
Published on Apr 18, 2026
Sharon Lokedi will attempt to become back-to-back Boston Marathon champion on Monday, with the Kenyan runner insisting the pressure of defending her title changes nothing about how she approaches the race.
The Kenyan-born runner, who shattered the women’s course record at last year’s Boston Marathon with a time of 2:17:22, taking two minutes and 37 seconds off the course record set in 2014 by Buzunesh Deba, spoke at a brand event on Friday.
“Every time you do a marathon, you think it’s going to get easier, but it never really does,” Lokedi said.
Asked about the pressure of defending her title, the 2022 New York Marathon winner was measured. “It’s always a different race. It’s always a different group of women, a different type of competition. So I just treat it like it’s a new race.”
On the mental side, she said visualisation has become a key tool. “I’ve trained well, I’ve done all I could, and I’m excited. It’s an open race — you never know — but I put myself there and hope for the best.”
For those lining up alongside her on Monday, the 32-year-old runner offered straightforward counsel on race strategy: “Just start controlled, keep a controlled pace,” and as for the nerves that build in the days before the gun fires, Lokedi reframed them simply. “It’s a good feeling because it tells you you’re ready.”
Published on Apr 18, 2026
Sharon Lokedi will attempt to become back-to-back Boston Marathon champion on Monday, with the Kenyan…