Newly crowned Boston Marathon champion Sharon Lokedi has revealed that finishing behind compatriot Hellen Obiri in last year’s race is what fueled her hunger to win this year’s race
Lokedi triumphed in a course record time of 2:17:22, nearly two minutes faster than the previous mark set by Ethiopia’s Buzunesh Deba (2:19:59) in 2014.
Obiri placed second in 2:17:41 with Ethiopia's Yalemzerf Yehualaw clocking 2:18:06 for third.
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Irene Cheptai missed the podium, placing fourth (2:21:32), with Stacy Ndiwa (2:23:29), Mary Ngugi-Cooper (2:24:39), Cynthia Jerotich (2:24:43), and Violah Cheptoo (2:25:23) in positions nine, eleven, twelve, and fourteen, respectively.
Lokedi, who finished runner-up to Obiri in last year’s edition, revealed that playing second fiddle lit a fire in her belly to beat her domestic rival on Boston’s hallowed streets finally.
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The 31-year-old dug deep in the closing stages and pulled clear of Obiri with one kilometre to go. “Whenever we race together, I’m usually behind her. But today, I told myself that wouldn’t be the case. I pushed myself and I’m glad I did,” Lokedi said.
Last year, Obiri beat Lokedi to the Boston title in 2:22:37 with Lokedi second in 2:22:45.
At the 2023 New York Marathon, Obiri claimed victory in 2:27:23 ahead of Ethiopia's Letesenbet Gidey (2:27:29) and Lokedi (2:27:33).
Obiri further bested Lokedi to the Olympic podium in Paris with Obiri clocking 2:23:10 for bronze while Lokedi missed the podium by a fraction in fourth place, clocking 2:23:14. Lokedi highlighted that they pushed each other, each aiming for the win.
"We ran fast, and the whole time she was behind me. We all wanted the win," she noted.
The pace was relentless from the gun, and the women’s race turned into a record-breaking showcase.
A stacked lead group of 15 women — including Lokedi, Obiri, Yehualaw, world champion Amane Beriso, and Cheptai — sailed through 10km in 32:51.
The tempo intensified, whittling the pack down to five as they crossed halfway in 1:08:46.
“At halfway, we were around 68 minutes, and I thought, Wow, that’s quick — and we haven’t even hit the hills yet. But we kept the pace honest,” Lokedi recalled.
Despite early thoughts of conserving energy for the Newton Hills and the final stretch, Lokedi threw caution to the wind.
“There was a point where I thought I might be going too fast, especially on the slopes. But I told myself, ‘Just go with it.’ You never know until you try.”
The risk paid off handsomely.
“I’m just so excited. I wanted to give it my best and fight all the way,” she said. At the finish line, Lokedi shared an emotional embrace with her mother, who had flown in from Kenya to witness her daughter’s crowning moment.
"She is my inspiration, and she always supports me; it feels so good to have won and have her here to witness it," she noted.
Lokedi also lauded the Boston Marathon organisers and the roaring crowd for creating a spectacular atmosphere.
"The race was awesome, I loved every part of it, so thank you, Boston," she noted.
In the men's race, John Korir crossed the line in 2:04:45 ahead of Tanzania's Alphonse Simbu (2:05:04) and Cyprian Kotut (2:05:04).
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