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Obiri and Lemma win the 128th Boston Marathon

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By Clay Shaw

Boston, MA, April 15, 2024—Marcel Hug of Switzerland started the day wheeling to a course record of 1:15:33.  Hug has been totally dominant, winning multiple majors.  He took a spill on a hard turn, crashing into some barriers, but he lost little time.  He won by over five minutes.  Daniel Romanchuk of Mt Airy, Maryland was second in 1:20:37.  David Weir of Great Britain was third in 1:22:12. 

22-year-old Eden Rainbow Cooper of Great Britain won her first major with a time of 1:35:11.  Manuela Schär of Switzerland was second in 1:36:41 and Madison De Rozario of Australia was third in 1:39:20.

The men’s and women’s running races couldn’t been more different.  Sisay Lemma of Ethiopia took an early lead and the other favorites just let him go – the whole way!  Lemma had DNF’d at 2017 and 2022 Boston and was 30th in 2023.  He is also is the 4th fastest marathoner in history with a 2:01:48 set in his Valencia Marathon 2023 victory.  Lemma went through hallway in 1:00:19, which was 99 seconds faster than Geoffrey Mutai’s course record in 2011.  He had more than a two-minute lead on the chasers for much of the race, although by the end he had slowed off of course-record pace.  He won comfortably in 2:06:17.  

By the time they passed me around 40K, defending champ Evans Chebet of Kenya and fellow Kenyan John Korir were running hard together, trying to catch Lemma.  Running strongly from behind the Kenyan duo, was Mohamed Esa of Ethiopia.  He blew past the two Kenyans to take second place in 2:06:58, 41 seconds behind Lemma.  2023 champion Chebet was third in 2:07:22.  John Korir of Kenya was fourth in 2:07:40.  Isaac Mpofu of Zimbabwe was sixth in 2:08:17.  CJ Albertson of Fresno, CA was seventh and first USA in 2:09:53.  Albertson was fifth at the USA Olympic Marathon Trials in Orlando in February.  The top master was Elkanah Kibet of Colorado Springs in 2:12:32; he was 14th.  Kibet was 4th in the USA Marathon Trials in January.

The women’s race was the complete opposite as a strong 20-woman pack went through halfway in 1:12:33. Things started to get serious just after 21 miles, with Hellen Obiri of Kenya breaking up the group with surges that only four others could cover.  In very little time it was just Sharon Lokedi and 44-year-old Edna Kiplagat who could match strides.  Around mile 24 it was down to Obiri and Lokedi.  Obiri’s marathon strategy is patience, and then using her track speed to separate from any challengers.  She separated from her good friend Sharon Lokedi and sprinted down Boylston St, winning in 2:22:37.  She became the first woman to repeat as champion since Catherine Nderba did it in 2004 and 2005. 

Lokedi was second, eight seconds back in 2:22:45.  2017 champ Edna Kiplagat of Kenya was third in 2:23:21 and top master.  Edna has 14 podium finishes in 27 starts at Abbott World Majors.  Buze Diriba of Ethiopia was fourth in 2:24:04.  Senbere Teferi of Ethiopia was fifth, also in 2:24:04.  The Americans were led by Emma Bates in 2:27:14.  Sara Hall of Flagstaff, AZ was 15th and second master on her 41st birthday in 2:27:58.  2018 champion Des Linden of Charlevoix, MI was 16th and third master in 2:28:27.  It was the 11th time Des has run the Boston Marathon.

10,902 women, 14,578 men and 48 non-binary finished Boston in 2024 for a total of 25,528.

Full Results

Top Men Wheelchair Runners

  1.  1:15:33 Marcel Hug, 38, Switzerland
  2. 1:20:37 Daniel Romanchuk, 25, Mt Airy, MD
  3. 1:22:12 David Weir, 44, Great Britain

Top Women Wheelchair Runners

  1.  1:35:11 Eden Rainbow Cooper, 22, Great Britain
  2. 1:36:41 Manuela Schar, 39, Switzerland
  3. 1:39:20 Madison De Rozario, 30, Australia

Top Women Runners

  1.  2:22:37 Hellen Obiri, 34, Kenya
  2. 2:22:45 Sharon Lokedi, 30, Kenya
  3. 2:23:21 Edna Kiglagat, 44, Kenya
  4. 2:24:04 Buze Diriba, 30, Ethiopia
  5. 2:24:04 Senbere Teferi, 28, Ethiopia
  6. 2:24:24 Mary Ngugi, 35, Kenya
  7. 2:24:47 Workenesh Edesa, 31, Ethiopia
  8. 2:24:53 Fatima Gardadi, 32, Morocco
  9. 2:24:58 Tiruye Mesfin, 22, Ethiopia
  10. 2:25:16 Dera Dida, 27, Ethiopia
  11. 2:26:31 Siranesh Yirga, 23, Ethiopia
  12. 2:27:14 Emma Bates, 31, Boulder, CO
  13. 2:27:23 Vibian Chepkirui, 29, Kenya
  14. 2:27:36 Helah Kiprop, 39, Kenya
  15. 2:27:58 Sara Hall, 41, Flagstaff, AZ
  16. 2:28:27 Desiree Linden, 40, Charlevoix, MI
  17. 2:31:03 Meseret Belete, 24, Ethiopia
  18. 2:31:39 Jenny Simpson, 37, Boulder, CO
  19. 2:32:14 Angie Orjuela, 34, Colombia
  20. 2:32:31 Dominique Scott, 31, South Africa

Top Men Runners

  1.  2:06:17 Sisay Lemma, 33, Ethiopia
  2. 2:06:58 Mohamed Esa, 23, Ethiopia
  3. 2:07:22 Evans Chebet, 35, Kenya
  4. 2:07:40 John Korir, 27, Kenya
  5. 2:07:47 Albert Korir, 30, Kenya
  6. 2:08:17 Isaac Mpofu, 35, Zimbabwe
  7. 2:09:53 CJ Albertson, 30, Fresno, CA
  8. 2:09:59 Yuma Morii, 33, Japan
  9. 2:10:29 Cybrian Kotut, 31, Kenya
  10. 2:10:45 Zouhair Talbi, 29, Morocco
  11. 2:10:52 Shura Kitata, 27, Ethiopia
  12. 2:11:18 Sondre Moen, 33, Norway
  13. 2:11:44 Suguru Osako, 32, Japan
  14. 2:12:32 Elkanah Kibet, 40, Colorado Springs, CO
  15. 2:14:22 Ryan Eiler, 38, Boston, MA
  16. 2:14:44 Yemane Haileselassie, 26, Eritrea
  17. 2:14:56 Primoz Kobe, 42, Slovenia
  18. 2:15:45 Patrick Smith, 37, Salt Lake City, UT
  19. 2:16:17 Grant O’Connor, 26, West Hartford, CT
  20. 2:16:23 Comeschi Alexandru, 32, Romania

PHOTOS ARE SHOWN IN THE ORDER THEY HAPPENED ON RACE DAY, AND MOST WERE TAKEN NEAR 40K

Marcel Hug of Switzerland sets a course record of 1:15:33. It was the seventh time Hug has won the Boston Marathon. (Photo courtesy of the B.A.A)
Eden Rainbow Cooper of Great Britain wins in 1:35:11. It was her first win at an Abbott World Majors. (Photo courtesy of the B.A.A.)
Sisay Lemma of Ethiopia took the lead early and kept on going. Lemma won the 2024 Boston Marathon in 2:06:17.
2023 champ Evans Chebet of Kenya runs with John Korir in an effort to catch Lemma. They are shown here at 40K. Look in the background to see Mohamed Esa of Ethiopia moving up.
The fastest man in the final miles of the Boston Marathon was Mohamed Esa of Ethiopia. He passed the two runners in front of him and finished second in 2:06:58.
Albert Korir of Kenya was fifth overall in 2:07:47.
Isaac Mpofu of Zimbabwe was sixth in 2:08:17.
CJ Albertson of Fresno, CA was first American and seventh overall in 2:09:53. Albertson was fifth in the USA Olympic Marathon Trials in Orlando.
Yuma Morii of Kyoto City, Japan checks his 40K split as he makes every second count on his way to 2:09:59 and eighth place.
Elkanah Kibet of Colorado Springs, CO is top master, second American, and 14th overall in 2:12:32. Kibet was 4th in Orlando USA Olympic Marathon Trials.
Ryan Eiler of Boston, MA was third American and had a personal best of 2:14:22, finishing 15th.
Primoz Kobe of Slovenia was 17th and second master in 2:14:56.
Americans Patrick Smyth of Salt Lake City, UT and Grant O’Connor of West Hartford, CT race toward the CITGO sign. Smyth was 18th in 2:15:45. O’Connor was 19th in 2:16:17.
Jacob Shiohira of Bentonville, Arkansas was 24th in 2:17:08.
Kento Otsu of Tokyo, Japan was 25th in 2:17:57. The official timer car stopped here to switch the 40K display clock for the lead women.
Just pure racing as Sharon Lokedi and Hellen Obiri, both of Kenya, go at it at 40K. Obiri would repeat as champion in 2:22:37. Lokedi was second in 2:22:45.
Hellen Obiri of Kenya was patient until now, as she soon would put distance on the challenge of her good friend Sharon Lokedi.
Edna Kiplagat of Kenya is simply amazing. At 44 she placed third overall in 2:23:21 and was first master.
Mary Ngugi Cooper of Kenya was sixth in 2:24:24.
Fatima Gardadi of Morocco who won bronze in the World Champs Marathon in Budapest 2023, placed eighth in Boston in 2:24:53. Tiruye Mesfin of Ethiopia was 9th in 2:24:58.
Emma Bates of Boulder, CO was first American woman once again, running 2:27:14 and finishing twelfth. Vibian Chepkirui of Kenya was 13th in 2:27:23.
Sara Hall of Flagstaff, AZ celebrates her 41st birthday by running the Boston Marathon in 2:27:58. Sara was 15th overall, second master, and second American.
Des Linden of Charlevoix, MI got the most cheers; the 2018 champion was 16th overall, 3rd master, and 3rd American in 2:28:27.
Jenny Simpson of Boulder, CO was 18th and 4th American in 2:31:39. The fans are giving Jenny kudos.
Dominique Scott of South Africa was 20th in 2:32:31 in a very competitive women’s field.
Angie Orjuela of Bogota, Columbia was 19th in 2:32:14.
Abigail Corrigan of Philadelphia was 27th in 2:42:54.
Masters star Gina Rouse of Knoxville, TN waves to the crowd on her way to a 2:51:16 and sixth master.
C Fred Joslyn of Boiling Springs, PA was the first and only Central Pennsylvania runner I was able to photograph. Fred ran 2:44:06. London is next for Fred.
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