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A rider in costume as Paul Revere approached the finish line of the Boston Marathon, exclaiming, “The runners are coming.”
And indeed, they surged down Boylston Street.
In a remarkable display of speed, a historic familial achievement unfolded, coinciding with the commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the first shots fired in the American Revolution, which even included a rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
Sharon Lokedi from Kenya shattered the Boston Marathon course record by over two and a half minutes, showcasing her strength by outpacing two-time defending champion Hellen Obiri, who had narrowly defeated her in a thrilling finish the previous year.
Meanwhile, fellow Kenyan John Korir, who experienced a fall shortly after the race began, remarkably redeemed himself by joining his brother as the first family duo to conquer the world’s oldest and most prestigious annual marathon, a race that originated in 1897.
Lokedi completed the marathon in two hours, 17 minutes, and 22 seconds, securing a prize of $150,000 and an additional $50,000 bonus for breaking the previous record of 2:19:59 established by Buzunesh Deba in 2014. Obiri, seeking to become the first woman to win three consecutive titles since Fatuma Roba in 1999, finished 19 seconds behind her.
“Where she passed me last year, I passed her this year,” Lokedi remarked with a chuckle. “I didn’t even believe it. I kept looking back and wondering, ‘Where is she?’ I am just so thankful to her for pushing me throughout the race.”
Having triumphed in Chicago just six months prior, Korir recorded a winning time of 2:04:45—marking the second-fastest winning time in Boston’s history—thanks to optimal running conditions for the challenging 26.2 miles (42.2 kilometers) from Hopkinton to Copley Square in Boston.
Despite being tripped and falling early on, he quickly rejoined the lead pack, demonstrating resilience and determination.
“Should I stay down, or should I get up and go?” he reflected on his choice. “Something urged me to get up and go, and from that moment on, everything fell into place.”
Korir faced an unusual challenge when his race bib came loose, prompting him to tuck it into his running tights, only to produce it once more as he sprinted toward the finish. Waiting to congratulate him was his elder brother Wesley Korir, the Boston Marathon champion of 2012.
Canada’s Linkletter finishes 6th
Calgary’s Rory Linkletter achieved a personal-best time of 2:07:02, finishing sixth in the men’s race.
Linkletter displayed impressive pacing early on, leading a group of ten runners at the halfway point before he was passed around Mile 16.
“This was a breakthrough race—definitely my best marathon experience so far,” Linkletter expressed in an interview. “I believed that if I could stay competitive until the end, it would turn out to be a memorable day.”
At 28 years old, Linkletter sought redemption at Boston after an unfortunate debut in 2021, where he finished an unremarkable 33rd despite being part of the leading pack midway through the race.
On May 25, the 2024 Olympian is set to headline the Ottawa Marathon, viewing it as a significant opportunity to claim victory in one of his upcoming twelve races.
Notably, while Boston has seen unrelated winners sharing the same names, the Korir brothers hold the distinction of being the first siblings to achieve victory.
“He advised me to stay strong and have faith in myself,” said John Korir, whose previous Boston finishes were fourth and ninth. “That gave me the belief I needed.”
Conner Mantz from Provo, Utah, finished fourth, narrowly losing out in a three-way sprint against Alphonce Felix Simbu of Tanzania in second place and Cybrian Kotut from Kenya in third.
In the women’s race, Yalemzerf Yehualaw of Ethiopia took third. The top American woman was Jess McClain from Phoenix, securing seventh place, while 2018 winner Des Linden, who has announced her retirement from competitive running, triumphed in the masters division and placed 17th overall.
Upon crossing the finish line, the American women honored Linden with bows.
“I owe a lot to the women who came before me—they built a path for us,” Linden stated. “They inspired me to pursue my dreams and made me feel valid in my aspirations. My goal has always been to pass that same support on to others in this sport.”
Toronto’s Kylee Raftis finished 28th (2:34:41), while fellow Torontonian Rachel Hannah placed 29th (2:34:42) and Kate Bazeley from St. John’s, Newfoundland, took 47th place (2:39:33).
This year not only marked remarkable individual performances but also celebrated the 50th anniversary of Bob Hall’s pioneering wheelchair race. Marcel Hug from Switzerland claimed his eighth wheelchair victory, while Susannah Scaroni of the United States earned the women’s title.
“Each time the national anthem is played, it hits me emotionally,” said Scaroni, who had won in 2023 but was unable to defend her title due to injury last year. “Hearing our anthem today, on such a historic anniversary, was incredibly moving.”
A vibrant field of 30,000 runners set off from Hopkinton for the Boston Marathon, accompanied by participants dressed in Revolutionary War attire, complete with a fife and drum playing “Yankee Doodle.”
In a lighthearted moment, the ceremonial ride was temporarily interrupted when the horses were startled by the large “finish line” decal on the pavement, prompting the Revere reenactor to dismount and walk the final few steps amidst laughter and applause from the gathered crowd.
Following a proclamation, the rider steered the horse the remainder of the distance before continuing on to other ceremonies that commemorated Revere’s famous midnight ride on April 19, 1775, where he warned of the British advance.
Linden read the voice-over for the reenactment, humorously questioning the professionalism of the horses involved. “It seemed quite challenging for them,” she said afterwards. “But it turns out they were indeed experienced.”
In stark contrast, Hug maneuvered the course flawlessly, finishing in 1:21:34 to secure his eighth Boston wheelchair title, completing the distance more than four minutes ahead of two-time champion Daniel Romanchuk.
Scaroni’s time of 1:35:20 corresponded with the Boston Athletic Association’s tribute to Hall’s efforts in establishing the wheelchair division in 1975.
“I stand here today because a multitude of exceptional individuals fought for this opportunity with unwavering integrity and determination,” Scaroni shared. “I cannot express my gratitude enough for the doors they opened for us.”
“I don’t claim to be as brave as them,” Scaroni added. “I’m here purely because of the awe-inspiring legacy they created.”
Source
www.cbc.ca