30,000 athletes took to the course for the 128th edition of the race.
BY TAYLOR DUTCH
On Monday, April 15, 30,000 athletes from around the globe set out to compete in the 2024 Boston Marathon. The 128th iteration of the historic race was run in warmer conditions with a starting temperature of about 16 degrees with 58 percent humidity. Sisay Lemma won the men’s race in 2:06:17 after pulling away early and Hellen Obiri repeated as the women’s champion, crossing the line in 2:22:37. Rob Gronkowski, a four-time Super Bowl-winning tight end with the New England Patriots, served as the grand marshal of the race.
Sisay Lemma runs away from the men’s field to win Boston
Two years after dropping out of the race, Sisay Lemma earned redemption in Boston. On Monday morning, the 33-year-old won the Boston Marathon in 2:06:17. A blazing early pace catapulted the Ethiopian to his second World Marathon Major victory. Mohamed Esa finished second in 2:06:58, and two-time champion Evans Chebet finished third in 2:07:22.
The men’s race got off to a surprising start with Lemma running away from the field. The pack strung out early as he led a group of nine through the first 5K in 14:21. Lemma broke away for good just after 5K, eventually flying through 10K in 28:28. Lemma continued the momentum through halfway (1:00:19) well under course-record pace.
For a time, his lead grew in the second half with the chase pack—including Chebet, Cybrian Kotut, John Korir, and Albert Korir—trailing by 2:21 at 25K. Heartbreak Hill didn’t phase Lemma, who pulled away even farther in Newton.
The quick early pace started to catch up with Lemma in the last eleven kilometres or so. He made his way through 35K in 1:42:56, 21 seconds slower than Geoffrey Mutai’s split when he set the 2:03:02 course record in 2011. Meanwhile, the gap started to close slightly with Chebet and the Korir brothers battling for the final podium spots and Esa making a hard move to the front.
While the course record was no longer in jeopardy, Lemma remained steadfast in his title pursuit all the way to Boylston Street. The Boston Marathon victory adds to his growing collection of hardware. He won the 2021 London Marathon, and last year, took top honors at the Valencia Marathon in 2:01:48, making him the fourth-fastest marathoner in history.
Esa, a 23-year-old rising star from Ethiopia, came from behind in the last few kilometres to claim another podium finish after placing second at the 2023 Tokyo Marathon. For Chebet, this year’s race ended a two-year winning streak over 26.2 that included one victory in New York City and two in Boston.
Lemma earned $150,000 for the win, Esa took home $75,000 for second place, and Chebet received $40,000 for finishing third.
The first American to finish was CJ Albertson, who placed seventh in 2:06:53 just 10 weeks after finishing fifth at the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in Orlando, Florida. Elkanah Kibet followed for 14th in 2:12:32.
Hellen Obiri defends her Boston title
A thrilling battle between champions highlighted the women’s race in Boston. With a stellar sprint to the finish, Hellen Obiri of Kenya claimed her second consecutive Boston Marathon crown in 2:22:37. The 34-year-old fought hard in the last five kilometres, breaking away from runner-up and 2022 New York City Marathon champion Sharon Lokedi (2:22:45), and two-time Boston winner (2017 and 2021) Edna Kiplagat to top the podium in a Kenyan sweep.
Unlike the men’s race, about 20 women ran as a massive pack for much of the competition. Settling into more conservative paces, prerace favorites and emerging stars navigated the early kilometres together, splitting 16:36 for the first 5K and 1:12:33 for the half marathon.
The first sign of struggle for some happened around kilometre 27 after the leaders dropped 3:14 for the 25th kilometre, then the fastest split of the race. In the following kilometres, the leaders resumed a steady pace once again with all of the contenders running patiently shoulder-to-shoulder.
Around kilometre 33, more separation occurred as several runners, including early leader Emma Bates, started to fall off the pace.
During kilometre 33, the pack finally broke apart for good with a 3:05 kilometre split led by Obiri, Lokedi, and Kiplagat. After dropping Kiplagat shortly after, Obiri and Lokedi pulled away together. The defending champion dropped Lokedi with a 2:55 kilometre 38 while closing in on the finish line.
Obiri’s victory is her third consecutive World Marathon Major title after winning Boston and New York City last year. For runner-up Lokedi, 30, the performance adds to her growing collection of medals after finishing third in New York City last year. At 44 years old, Kiplagat secured her 10th podium finish at the World Marathon Majors.
Obiri earned $150,000 for winning the title, Lokedi made $75,000 for finishing second, and Kiplagat took home $45,000 for placing third and winning the masters division.
The American contingent was led by Bates, who finished 12th in 2:27:14. After finishing fifth at the Olympic Trials, Sara Hall placed 15th in 2:27:58. 2018 Boston Marathon champion Des Linden finished 16th in 2:28:57. Jenny Simpson placed 18th in 2:31:39 after dropping out of her marathon debut at the Trials.
Marcel Hug wins 11th consecutive World Marathon Major
Marcel Hug claimed his seventh Boston Marathon victory in a new course record. The Swiss athlete shattered the time, winning the men’s wheelchair race in 1:15:33.
Hug pulled away from the field from the gun and remained unchallenged for the rest of the race despite crashing into a barrier around midway on the course. The athlete nicknamed “The Silver Bullet” regrouped and was on pace to shatter the 1:17:06 course record he set last year. In the first 21.1, he built a 3:35 lead over David Weir and Daniel Romanchuk. He powered through the second half solo to make history once again.
The world record-holder earned a bonus of $50,000 for breaking the record on top of the $40,000 for winning the race.
Romanchuk went on to place second in 1:20:37, and Weir finished third in 1:22:12.
Eden Rainbow-Cooper emerges with first World Marathon Major win
In the days leading up to the women’s wheelchair race, defending champion Susannah Scaroni withdrew because of a shoulder injury. The last-minute shakeup left the competition open for an rising star to claim the crown.
Just six weeks after finishing second at the Tokyo Marathon, Eden Rainbow-Cooper won the women’s title in 1:35:11. The unsponsored British athlete established an early lead and held it for the rest of the race despite a hard-charging Manuela Schär attempting to close the gap in the final kilometres. At just 22 years old, Rainbow-Cooper held off the four-time Boston Marathon champion and earned $40,000 for the victory. Schär finished second in 1:36:41.
Ryan Montgomery wins the nonbinary division
Ryan Montgomery, an elite ultra runner, claimed the nonbinary title in 2:27:45 nine weeks after completing the Black Canyon 100K. The 29-year-old from Park City, Utah, improved on their marathon personal best by five minutes in Boston. The performance follows a breakthrough year for Montgomery, who finished eighth overall as the first nonbinary finisher at the 2023 Western States Endurance Run.
Behind Montgomery, Winter Parts finished second in 2:31:08 and Kassian Eaton placed third in 2:34:51 to round out the top three.
The nonbinary division grew in size this year with 53 entries, up from the 26 that competed in last year’s Boston Marathon.
