Sisay Lemma won the Boston Marathon for the first time in his career.
The 33-year-old Ethiopian won on Monday (April 15, 2024) in 2:06:17 hours, which was the tenth best time in the history of the traditional race. Lemma’s best result so far in his four starts was a 30th place; he failed to finish twice.
Defending champion Evans Chebet, who had won in the past two years, had to be content with third place this time. The Kenyan crossed the finish line in the 128th edition over 42.195 kilometers after 2:07:22 hours.
First title defense since 2005
In the women’s race, Hellen Obiri defended her title on the undulating course through the US state of Massachusetts into Boston. The Kenyan secured her renewed success with a final sprint and relegated her Kenyan compatriot Sharon Lokedi to second place by eight seconds in 2:22:37 hours.
Hellen Obiri from Kenya won her second victory at the Boston Marathon
Obiri is the first woman since 2005 to win the Boston Marathon twice in a row. The two-time Boston winner Edna Kiplagat (2:23:21) from Kenya came third.
Lemma alone for a long time
Lemma, who won the London Marathon in 2021, set a high pace from the start, running alone for most of the route. In the first half he was 99 seconds faster than Geoffrey Mutai (Kenya) in his 2011 course record (2:03:02 hours).
Lemma’s compatriot Mohames Esa caught up in the final kilometers and finished second, 41 seconds behind. It was the first victory by an Ethiopian in Boston since 2016.
