Boston Marathon Unveils Elite Field for 129th Running on April 21
Hellen Obiri of Kenya will run the Boston Marathon on April 21, 2025, hoping to secure a win for the third year. Obiri joins an elite field of participants announced by race organizers on Wednesday, Jan. 8, and reported by Runner’s World.
In 2024, Obiri covered the 24th mile in 4:41 and won in 2:22:37, just eight seconds ahead of her fellow race competitor Sharon Lokedi, who also will return to Boston.
Obiri and Lokedi will both be challenged by Ethiopia’s Amane Beriso and Yalemzerf Yehualaw. Bersio recorded a personal best of 2:14:58 in the 2022 Valencia Marathon, making her as the fifth-fastest woman of all time.
Defending Ethiopia men’s champion Sisay Lemma will be returning to Boston. His 2:01:48 time in Valencia in 2023 ranks him as the fourth-fastest man in history. Lemma will be challenged by Evans Chebet of Kenya, who won in Boston in 2022 and 2023, and John Korir of Kenya, who placed fourth in 2024.
The American elite field features several strong marathoners. On the women’s side, there is Keira D’Amato, who held the American record at the Boston Marathon at 2:19:12 in 2002, and Sara Hall, who ran 2:23:45 at the 2024 Berlin Marathon.
Olympians Dakotah Popehn and Des Linden will join Emma Bates, the top American in the Boston Marathon in 2024. Also included in the group are Jess McClain, who finished fourth in the Olympic Marathon Trials, plus Sara Vaughn, Kellyn Taylor, and Lindsay Flanagan.
For the American men, participants include Olympians Conner Mantz and Clayton Young. They’ll be challenged by CJ Albertson, who participated in five fast marathons in 2024. Albertson set a personal record of 2:08:17 in Chicago. Zach Panning is also a contender, placing fifth at the Olympic Marathon Trials.
Visit the B.A.A. website for a complete list of elite field participants.
