Defending champions Obiri and Lemma take on strong fields in Boston

Defending Boston Marathon champions Hellen Obiri and Sisay Lemma are among the many star names set for the World Athletics Platinum Label road race on Monday.

Obiri – the only woman in history to have won world titles indoors, outdoors and at cross country – is aiming to become the first woman to achieve three consecutive Boston Marathon wins since Fatuma Roba achieved the feat in 1999.

“Defending a win is never easy, and to win the Boston Marathon twice in a row was hard, but I am happy to have done it,” said Obiri, the 2023 and 2024 winner.

But the three-time Olympic medallist won’t have it all her own way as she’ll be up against six women with sub-2:20 PBs, including world champion Amane Beriso. The 2023 runner-up, who has a PB of 2:14:58, is the fastest in the field and will be joined on the start line by her compatriot Yalemzerf Yehualaw, the 2022 London Marathon champion.

Obiri is one of several strong Kenyans in the field, alongside two-time Boston winner Edna Kiplagat, 2022 New York Marathon winner Sharon Lokedi, Hamburg Marathon champion Irene Cheptai, and 2012 Boston Marathon winner Sharon Cherop.

Former North American record-holder Keira D’Amato is the fastest of the US entrants. She’ll be joined by Emma Bates, Sara Vaughn, Sara Hall and 2018 Boston Marathon winner Desiree Linden.

Not only is Sisay Lemma the defending champion, he is also the fastest entrant in the men’s field. His PB of 2:01:48, set when winning in Valencia in 2023, makes him the fourth-fastest marathon runner in history.

“I was very happy after winning the Boston Marathon last year, and in 2025 I know it will be an even bigger challenge to win again,” said Lemma.

Four of the top seven men’s finishers from last year’s Boston Marathon return, including two-time winner Evans Chebet, who was third last year. Chicago Marathon champion John Korir, who finished fourth last year and is second fastest in the field with the PB of 2:02:44 he ran to win in Chicago, will also return.

Cybrian Kotut and Haymanot Alew were second and third at last year’s Berlin Marathon and both have lifetime bests inside 2:04. World champion Victor Kiplangat seeks to become the first Ugandan man to win in Boston, while two-time world 5000m champion Muktar Edris will be making his marathon debut.

Other leading names include two-time Boston winner Lelisa Desisa, Kenya’s Daniel Mateiko, Tanzania’s Alphonce Felix Simbu, Lesotho’s Tebello Ramakongoana, Kenya’s Abel Kipchumba and Eritrea’s Yemane Haileselassie.

Conner Mantz and Clayton Young, who were eighth and ninth respectively in the Olympic marathon last year before finishing in the top 10 at the New York Marathon, lead the US charge.

Women
Amane Beriso (ETH) 2:14:58
Yalemzerf Yehualaw (ETH) 2:16:52
Irine Cheptai (KEN) 2:17:51
Keira D'Amato (USA) 2:19:12
Rahma Tusa (ETH) 2:19:33
Edna Kiplagat (KEN) 2:19:50
Buze Diriba (ETH) 2:20:22
Mary Ngugi (KEN) 2:20:22
Sara Hall (USA) 2:20:32
Calli Hauger-Thackery (GBR) 2:21:34
Tsige Haileslase (ETH) 2:22:10
Sharon Cherop (KEN) 2:22:28
Viola Cheptoo (KEN) 2:22:44
Hellen Obiri (KEN) 2:23:10
Sharon Lokedi (KEN) 2:23:14
Emma Bates (USA) 2:23:18
Sara Vaughn (USA) 2:23:24
Lindsay Flanagan (USA) 2:23:31
Stacy Ndiwa (KEN) 2:23:42
Gabi Rooker (USA) 2:24:29
Dakotah Popehn (USA) 2:24:40
Jackie Gaughan (USA) 2:24:40
Cynthia Limo (KEN) 2:25:10
Lily Partridge (GBR) 2:25:12
Jess McClain (USA) 2:25:46
Desiree Linden (USA) 2:25:55
Tristin Colley (USA) 2:25:58

Men
Sisay Lemma (ETH) 2:01:48
John Korir (KEN) 2:02:44
Evans Chebet (KEN) 2:03:00
Cybrian Kotut (KEN) 2:03:22
Haymanot Alew (ETH) 2:03:31
Daniel Mateiko (KEN) 2:04:24
Alphonce Felix Simbu (TAN) 2:04:38
Lelisa Desisa (ETH) 2:04:45
Victor Kiplangat (UGA) 2:05:09
Asefa Boki (ETH) 2:05:40
Tebello Ramakongoana (LES) 2:06:18
Abel Kipchumba (KEN) 2:06:49
Tsegay Weldlibanos (ERI) 2:07:25
Patrick Tiernan (AUS) 2:07:45
Conner Mantz (USA) 2:07:47
Clayton Young (USA) 2:08:00
Rory Linkletter (CAN) 2:08:01
CJ Albertson (USA) 2:08:17
Amanuel Mesel (ERI) 2:08:17
Yemane Haileselassie (ERI) 2:08:25
Erenjia Jia (CHN) 2:08:32
Zach Panning (USA) 2:09:16
Colin Bennie (USA) 2:09:38
Brian Shrader (USA) 2:09:46