On April 20 in Boston, Lokedi spearheaded a resounding Kenyan podium sweep, storming to victory in 2:18:51.

After successfully defending her Boston Marathon crown late last month, Sharon Lokedi is set to return to the roads on May 17 when she lines up for the Riga Half Marathon in Latvia.

She fended off a spirited challenge from compatriot Loice Chemnung, who clocked 2:19:35 in only her second career outing over the full 42km distance.

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Completing the all-Kenyan domination, Mary Ngugi-Cooper sealed third place in 2:20:07.

The 32-year-old Lokedi was returning to familiar territory, having claimed last year’s title in emphatic fashion when she surged to a course record 2:17:22 after outkicking defending champion Hellen Obiri, who settled for second in 2:17:41.

Yalemzerf Yehualaw completed that podium in 2:18:06. Lokedi’s love affair with Boston has been building steadily.

She had finished second in the 2024 edition, clocking 2:22:45 just behind Obiri’s winning mark of 2:22:37. Speaking after her latest Boston triumph, Lokedi expressed delight at successfully defending her crown.

"It feels great to defend my title, I am really happy about it. This course really humbles you, but with the cheers and support from all the fans, that gives you motivation to give your all," she said.

Lokedi has enjoyed a flying start to 2026. She opened her campaign with a strong statement at the New York Half Marathon on March 15, clocking 1:07:10 to finish second once again behind Obiri, who lit up the course with a record-breaking 1:06:33.

Megan Keith of United Kingdom rounded off the podium in 1:07:13. Riga will mark Lokedi’s sixth outing over the distance.

She debuted over 21km at the 2021 Great North Run in United Kingdom, where she finished fourth in 1:09:53.

Obiri claimed victory there in 1:07:42, while home favourites Eilish McColgan (1:07:48) and Charlotte Purdue (1:08:59) finished second and third respectively.

The following year, Lokedi made her debut at the New York Half Marathon, securing fourth place yet again after timing 1:08:14.

That race saw Senbere Teferi (1:07:35), Irine Cheptai (1:07:37) and Karoline Grovdal (1:08:07) complete the podium.

However, her breakthrough came last year when she won the New York Half Marathon in 1:07:04 before placing second in Copenhagen with a superb 1:05:00.