Sharon Lokedi Sets A New Record; John Korir Creates Historic Legacy

On Monday, Sharon Lokedi won the 2025 Boston Marathon with a new record. The 31-year-old won the world’s oldest annual marathon in 2:17:22, breaking the course record. Lokedi bested the previous record of 2:19:59 set by Ethiopia’s Buzunesh Deba in 2014. With this time, the Kenyan managed to surpass the defending champion Hellen Obiri (2:17:41) by 19 seconds.

Lokedi, who started the race in the middle of the lead pack, surged in the last 1000 meters to surpass Obiri and deny her from completing a historic three-peat. Yalemzerf Yehualaw of Ethiopia placed third in 2:18:06. The race was certainly one of the closest in history, as all three winners managed to surpass the decade-long previous record.

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“It feels so good. It was tough, and I toughed it out.” Lokedi stated in the post-race interview. Over the past few years, Obiri, a two-time Olympic silver medalist in 5,000 meters, and Sharon Lokedi, last year’s Boston Marathon runner-up, have developed into a duo that has left the spectators on tiptoes until the end of the race. At the 2024 Boston Marathon, Obiri claimed her second consecutive title, leaving Lokedi behind by eight seconds. The two also faced each other at the New York Marathon in 2023, where the defending champion Lokedi placed third while Oberi claimed the gold.

John Korir Joins His Brother’s Legacy

Notably, the men’s race was also claimed by a Kenyan runner, John Korir, placing first in 2:04:45. Korir, who took a fall in the beginning of the race, surged at mile 19 to “become the fastest in the family.” The 28-year-old followed in the footsteps of his older brother Wesley, who won the event in 2012 and became the first sibling duo in history to win the Boston Marathon. Korir, who posted the second-fastest time in men’s race history at the 129th Boston Marathon, was also almost eight minutes faster than Wesley, who notably claimed the title on one of city’s hottest marathon days, peaking at 89 degrees.

“My brother Wesley, who won here in 2012, has always encouraged me to work hard, saying one day I will make it. I’m happy it has come to pass today,” he stated

Korir was followed by Alphonce Simbu of Tanzania, finishing second in 2:05:04. 28-year-old Conner Mantz was the top finisher for the U.S. placing fourth in 2:05:08. Mantz,who finished 11th in 2023, turned in the best performance by an American runner at the Boston Marathon since 2018.