Tonight (Beijing time), the 2026 Boston Marathon kicked off, with more than 30,000 runners taking to the world's oldest marathon course to complete their own pilgrimage.This year the Boston Marathon celebrates its 130th edition, featuring a very strong elite field and plenty of storylines.
On the women's side.Kenyan star Sharon·Lokedi（Sharon Lokedi）last year at the Boston Marathon showed dominating form, with 2:17:22 significantly broke the course record. This year, she returns to the Boston Marathon in the dual role of defending champion and course record holder, aiming to defend her title.
Her main rivals include Irine··Cheptai (Irine Cheptai), PB 2:17:51. Last year's double winner in Osaka and Hamburg, with Workenesh Edesa, PB 2:17:55··Loice Chemnung, who ran 2:18:23 in her Chicago debut last year.and last year’s Paris and Dubai Marathon double winner, the Ethiopian Bedatu·Hirpa.
On the men's side, defending champion John Korir, runner-up (and 2025 World Championships champion) Alphonce Felix Simbu, and third-place Cybrian Kotut have all returned. Benson Kipruto, the first to win all three major U.S. marathons (Boston, Chicago, New York), makes the competition even fiercer.
In addition, Berlin Marathon championMilkesa·Mengesha (Milkesa Mengesha) and New York Marathon championAbdi·Nageeye (Abdi Nageeye) should not be overlooked.
Beyond the fight for the men’s and women’s titles, the performance of the U.S. domestic contingent is also worth watching — after all, it’s a home race and everyone wants to put on a good show. It’s a pity we won’t get to see Conner Mantz.
At the start of the 2026 Boston Marathon the temperature was only 6°C, the day's high was 10°C, and relative humidity was around 60%. For most runners, this weather was somewhat cold.After the start there is a long downhill, the men's elitegroup hit a 2:42/km pace in the first kilometer — extremely fast.Ten minutes later the women's elite field was sent off. The starter was 2018 Boston Marathon champion Des Linden, who would later compete herself as a non-professional runner.The men's elite group covered the first 5 km in 14:19, with CJ Alberton and Rory Linkletter leading and projecting a finishing time of 2:00:47. Of course, Boston is tougher in the second half, so they're unlikely to be able to maintain that pace.In the women's race, the first 5 km was 16:34, projecting a finish time of 2:20:57. The leaders are all American runners.In the second five-kilometre segment, the men's lead pack thinned, but several American runners were pushing the pace.29:02 — the leading group passed the 10 km timing point in 29:02, projecting a finishing time of 2:02:27, which would still be faster than the course record. American runners Alex Maier and Ryan Ford and German Hendrik Pfeiffer were at the front. The two main contenders for the win, Benson Kipruto and John Korir, were both in the main pack.On the women's side, the leaders passed the 10 km timing point in 33:31, projecting a finishing time of 2:21:24. Americans Susanna Sullivan, Kodi Kleven and Sara Hall were leading.In the third 5-kilometer segment, the race didn’t change much; the runners were still conserving energy.43:45, American Alex Maier continued to lead at the 15 km split. He was followed by German Hendrik Pfeiffer and his compatriot Ryan Ford.In the women's race, Kodi Kleven and Dakotah Popehn formed a two-woman lead group, having covered 15 km in 50:29 and projecting a finishing time of 2:21:59. Reigning champion Sharon Lokedi and other favorites were not far behind them.15-20 km, Clayton Young caught up with the three leaders, Alex Maier, Ryan Ford and Hendrik Pfeiffer. The four passed the 20 km timing point together in 58:40, projecting a finishing time of 2:03:46.On the women's side, the leaders Kodi Kleven and Dakotah Popehn were gradually reeled in, and the women's lead pack bunched back together.1:07:21, American runner Annie Frisbie led through the 20 km timing point.Just past 20 km, 2016 champion Lemi Berhanu began to push the pace. His half marathon split was 1:01:43, seven seconds ahead of Korir. Before long Korir caught Berhanu, and the two formed the leading pair.But that didn't last long — the spearhead of the pack behind the two caught up, and the lead group swelled again.25 km split: 1:13:02,Milkesa Mengesha led, with a projected finish time of 2:03:16, behind him were Tebello Ramakongoana and Lemi Berhanu. Zouhair Talbi became the first American to pass the 25 km timing point, just 2 seconds behind Mengesha 2 seconds.On the women's side, Carrie Ellwood blitzed through the half split in 1:11:02, projecting a finish of 2:22:03. The U.S. women on home soil clearly showed a strong pack advantage.25 km time: 1:24:19, estimated finish time: 2:22:19.The sixth 5K,Mengesha continues to push the pace, leading the men's elite pack on his own. Bensen Kipruto and John Korir are running together, about 10 seconds back.1:27:26,Mengesha was first through the 25 km timing point, with an estimated finish time of 2:02:58, which would be faster than the Boston Marathon course record.Bensen Kipruto and John Korir were 12 seconds behind. U.S. runner On the women's side, the competition remained extremely fierce,Annie Frisbie continued to lead. At 28.8 km she was caught. The defending champion, Lokedi, finally moved up toward the front. The 30 km split was 1:41:14, projecting a finish time of 2:22:23. At 31.7 kilometers, John Korir caught up with Mengesha, then passed his rival to take the lead and moved in pursuit of the defending champion.Soon, Korir pulled away from Mengesha, with another late-race surge.35 km split 1:41:48, projected finish time 2:02:44 — that's incredibly fast; he's on pace to break the course record. Benson Kipruto is in second, 26 seconds behind. Simbu is third, 27 seconds back.At 35.9 kilometers, Korir, well clear in front, glanced back over his shoulder—still worried someone might catch him.The final kilometers turned into a battle between Korir and the course record. The 40 km split was 1:55:48, with a projected finish time of 2:02:10. Let’s see how much he can improve the course record.At the finish, Korir successfully defended his title in 2:01:52 (the fifth-fastest time in history), breaking the course record and improving it by more than a minute. The previous mark, 2:03:02, was set in 2011 when a big tailwind helped produce that time.(Because the Boston Marathon course is not record-eligible, performances there are not recognized by World Athletics — but so what?)Felix Simbu, runner-up: 2:02:47Benson Kipruto 3rd: 2:02:50 Kiros, Hailemaryam 4th: 2:03:42Zouhair Talbi (USA) 5th: 2:03:45Sharon Lokedi successfully retained her title with a time of 2:18:51. Loice Chemnung was second, finishing in 2:19:35.Image:Trail Running Big Bang / Visual: MAX
