Reigning Boston marathon champions John Korir and Sharon Lokedi will be at the starting line up to defend their Boston marathon titles come tomorrow in the USA.
The Kenyans won the races, both men and women last year and theborganizers have drafted them into the starting line up in the elite men and women races.
The 2024 Chicago marathon champion, Korir won the title in 2:04:45 then missed to defend the Chicago marathon before going ahead to win Valencia marathon in December with 2:02:24.
He led Tanzania’s Alphonce Simbu to second in 2:02.43 then compatriot Cybrian Kotut was third. Also in the line up is former champion Benson Kipruto, who also won the Chicago Marathon in 2022, 2024 Tokyo Marathon, and 2025 New York City Marathon.
Abdi Nageeye of the Netherlands will be chasing to reclaim the title then Milkesa Mengesha, Alex Masai among others.
Three months after winning Sirikwa Classic Cross Country in Eldoret in February, Korir hopes to retain the title.
With 2:17:22 she had last year with the win, Lokedi returns to defend her title after second finish at New York marathon at 2:20:07.
She will be up against former world cross country champion Irine Cheptai after finishing third last year in Chicago in 2:17:51 and second finish at Shanghai marathon in 2:18:51.
Another Kenyan Loice Chemnung, the 4th finisher at Chicago mararthon in 2025 in 2:18:24 is at the line up too then Ethiopians Workenesh Edesa and Bedatu Hirpa will be chasing the title too.
Boston marathon 2026 line up
Women
- Irine Cheptai (KEN) 2:17:51
- Workenesh Edesa (ETH) 2:17:55
- Loice Chemnung (KEN) 2:18:24
- Bedatu Hirpa (ETH) 2:18:27
- Emily Sisson (USA) 2:18:29
- Mary Ngugi-Cooper (KEN) 2:19:26
- Sharon Lokedi (KEN) 2:20:07
- Sara Hall (USA) 2:20:32
- Calli Hauger-Thackery (GBR) 2:21:24
- Susanna Sullivan (USA) 2:21:56
- Fiona O’Keeffe (USA) 2:22:10
- Mao Uesugi (JPN) 2:22:11
- Isobel Batt-Doyle (AUS) 2:22:59
- Lisa Weightman (AUS) 2:23:15
- Mercy Chelangat (KEN) 2:23:33
- Annie Frisbie (USA) 2:24:12
- Dakotah Popehn (USA) 2:24:20
- Jess McClain (USA) 2:25:46
Men
- Benson Kipruto (KEN) 2:02:16
- John Korir (KEN) 2:02:24
- Milkesa Mengesha (ETH) 2:03:17
- Cybrian Kotut (KEN) 2:03:22
- Abdi Nageeye (NED) 2:04:20
- Lemi Berhanu (ETH) 2:04:33
- Hailemaryam Kiros (ETH) 2:04:35
- Alex Masai (KEN) 2:04:37
- Alphonce Felix Simbu (TAN) 2:04:38
- Mohamed Esa (ETH) 2:04:39
- Zouhair Talbi (MAR/USA) 2:05:45
- Richard Ringer (GER) 2:05:46
- Sondre Moen (NOR) 2:05:48
- Galen Rupp (USA) 2:06:07
- Tebello Ramakongoana (LES) 2:06:18
- Hendrik Pfeiffer (GER) 2:06:45
- Rory Linkletter (CAN) 2:06:49
- Tsegay Weldibanos (ERI) 2:07:35
- Patrick Tiernan (AUS) 2:07:45
- Clayton Young (USA) 2:08:00
- CJ Albertson (USA) 2:08:17
- Yemane Haileselassie (ERI) 2:08:25