By Peter Ochieng
Kenyan Hellen Obiri ruled the Boston Marathon course in US for the second year running, in what was proper prepation for the Olympics games, later in the year, in Paris, France.
Obiri successfully defended her Boston Marathon title, after clocking a time of 2:22:37, in the process leading Kenyan compatriots Sharon Lokedi and Edna Kiplagat to a podium sweep.
Obiri and Lokedi are in Team Kenya’s provisional team for Paris Olympics, which means the rivalry between the duo is far from over. If anything, it is only starting.
On Monday evening, Hellen Obiri become the first woman to win back-to-back Boston Marathon titles, since Catherine Ndereba accomplished the feat in 2005.
The dominance shown by the Kenyan ladies did not materialise in the men’s race. Evans Chebet relinquished the title he won last year to new champion, Sisay Lemma of Ethiopia.
President William Ruto congradulated the marathoners.
“Congratulations Hellen Obiri for successfully defending your Boston Marathon title and leading Team Kenya to a clean sweep, with Sharon Lokedi and Edna Kiplagat securing second and third places respectively,” he said.
“Well done Evans Chebet for securing the bronze medal in the men’s race. You have all represented our nation commendably and are excellent ambassadors for Kenya.”
Lemma reached the finish line in a time of 2:06:17, his compatriot Mohammed Esa finished second, while Chebet who started the race in a privileged position of the defending champion, finished third.
Lemma, whose personal best of 2:01:48 makes him the fourth-fastest marathoner in history, was on pace to shatter the Boston course record of 2:03:02, set in 2011 by Kenyan Geoffrey Mutai.
The four fastest male marathoners are the late Kelvin Kiptum (Chicago Marathon 2023 – 2:00:35), Eliud Kipchoge (Berlin Marathon 2022 – 2:01:09), Kenenisa Bekele (Berlin Marathon 2019 – 2:01:41) and Sisay Lemma (Valencia 2023 – 2:01:48).
“I was able to redeem myself. So I’m happy,” he said after finally winning the Boston Marathon, after two previous attempts ‘ended in tears.’
“My plan was to break the course record. But it’s so hilly, up and down, and that took a lot and made me tired. The reason I came to run in Boston was because Boston Marathon is similar to the Paris Marathon – up and down the hills. It will help me there.”
