Originally published at: Korir, Lokedi Take Boston Marathon Laurels - Slowtwitch News
Kenya’s John Korir and Sharon Lokedi won the 129th Boston Marathon, with both making history in the process.
Korir joined his older brother Wesley as a Boston Marathon champion, breaking out of the pack in the critical Newton hills to take victory and become the first sibling duo to win the event. Korir ran 2:04:45, the second fastest men’s winning time here ever.
Nineteen seconds later came Tanzania’s Alphonce Felix Simbu and Korir’s fellow Kenyan Cybrian Kotut. Simbu narrowly edged Kotut in the photo finish, with a same time result of 2:05:04. American Conner Mantz earned his best Boston finish ever with his fourth in 2:05:08, leading a class of three American men finishing in the top 10. Muktar Edris of Ethiopia rounded out your top five finishers in 2:05:59.
Defending champion Sisay Lemma was running in the lead pack with under ten miles to go when he was seen pulling out of the group and stretching his leg. He would later drop out.
| Place and Name | Time | Earnings (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| 1. John Korir | 2:04:45 | $150,000 |
| 2. Alphonce Simbu | 2:05:04 | $75,000 |
| 3. Cybrian Kotut | 2:05:04 | $40,000 |
| 4. Conner Mantz | 2:05:08 | $25,000 |
| 5. Muktar Edris | 2:05:59 | $18,000 |
| 6. Rory Linkletter | 2:07:02 | $13,500 |
| 7. Clayton Young | 2:07:04 | $10,500 |
| 8. Tebello Ramakongoana | 2:07:19 | $8,500 |
| 9. Daniel Mateiko | 2:07:52 | $7,000 |
| 10. Ryan Ford | 2:08:00 | $5,500 |
In the women’s race, Lokedi shattered the course record, pulling away from defending champion Hellen Obiri through Kenmore Square, running a stunning 2:17:22. That’s more than two and a half minutes faster than the prior record of 2:19:59, set in 2014 by Buzunesh Deba. That course record also earned Lokedi a bonus $50,000 on top of her $150,000 first place prize.
Lokedi and Obiri had first dropped Yalemzerf Yehualaw coming out of Coolidge Corner on Commonwealth Avenue, approximately two miles from the finish. Yehualaw would cruise to third place, over three minutes in front of fourth place Irine Cheptai. Amane Beriso would finish fifth.
Jess McClain led American finishers with 7th place in 2:22:43, beating out Annie Frisbie for the honor. Des Linden, the 2018 Boston Marathon champion who was running her final professional race today, ran 2:26:19, good enough for 17th place.
| Place and Name | Time | Earnings (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Sharon Lokedi | 2:17:22 | $200,000 |
| 2. Hellen Obiri | 2:17:41 | $75,000 |
| 3. Yalemzerf Yehualaw | 2:18:06 | $40,000 |
| 4. Irine Cheptai | 2:21:32 | $25,000 |
| 5. Amane Beriso | 2:21:58 | $18,000 |
| 6. Calli Thackery | 2:22:38 | $13,500 |
| 7. Jess McClain | 2:22:43 | $10,500 |
| 8. Annie Frisbie | 2:23:21 | $8,500 |
| 9. Stacy Ndiwa | 2:23:29 | $7,000 |
| 10. Tsige Haileslase | 2:23:43 | $5,500 |
This year also marked the 50th running of the Marathon to include a wheelchair division. Germany’s Marcel Hug claimed his 8th Boston Marathon title, winning by more than four minutes. American Susannah Scaroni won her second Boston, breaking away from Catherine Debrunner after the halfway mark.
Images: Maddie Meyer for Getty Images