The 130th Boston Marathon on April 20 will feature what the Boston Athletic Association has called the deepest elite field in the event's history. For the first time, all four defending open and wheelchair division champions will line up alongside the reigning American record holders, creating a race that matches the occasion of this landmark anniversary edition.
In the men's race, defending champion John Korir returns in career-best form. The Kenyan won Boston last year in 2:04:45 and then lowered his personal best to 2:02:24 with a victory at the Valencia Marathon in December. He faces a field that includes 25 men who have broken 2:07, headlined by Benson Kipruto, whose 2:02:16 from the 2024 Tokyo Marathon gives him the fastest personal best in the field. World champion Gabriel Geay and two-time Boston winner Evans Chebet add further depth to what promises to be one of the most competitive men's marathons ever staged on the point-to-point course from Hopkinton to Boylston Street.
The women's race is equally stacked. Sharon Lokedi, who broke the course record with a stunning 2:17:22 last April, returns to defend her title against a field that includes Irine Cheptai, winner of both the Osaka and Hamburg marathons in 2025, and Workenesh Edesa, who placed second at the Shanghai Marathon. American hopes rest on Emily Sisson, the US marathon record holder, and Fiona O'Keeffe, who has emerged as one of the most exciting American marathon talents of the decade.
The field of 30,000 runners — representing nearly 130 countries and all 50 US states — will navigate a course that tests fitness and tactical awareness in equal measure. The famed Newton Hills, including Heartbreak Hill between miles 20 and 21, have historically separated contenders from pretenders, and this year's depth of talent virtually guarantees that the decisive moves will come later in the race than ever before. With ideal spring conditions forecast and the 130th anniversary providing an extra layer of motivation, Boston is set to deliver a race for the ages.