The 130th Boston Marathon on April 20 promises to be one of the most competitive editions in the race's storied history. Defending champion John Korir returns with a significantly improved personal best of 2:02:24, set at the Valencia Marathon in December, making him the clear favourite in a men's field that features 16 sub-2:06 performers and 24 men under 2:07 — numbers unprecedented for any non-championship marathon.
Korir's chief rival will be Benson Kipruto, the first man to win all three US World Marathon Majors (Boston, Chicago, New York), who adds Olympic medal credentials from Paris 2024. World champion Alphonce Felix Simbu of Tanzania, runner-up to Korir last year, brings the tactical brilliance that makes Boston's rolling hills so treacherous for pure speedsters. The Netherlands' Abdi Nageeye, the 2021 Olympic silver medallist and 2024 New York City Marathon champion, adds further depth to a field that could produce fireworks on the Newton hills.
The women's race takes on a different complexion with Hellen Obiri skipping Boston for the first time in her marathon career. That leaves defending champion Sharon Lokedi as the clear favourite, though the Kenyan will face stern challenges from American Fiona O'Keeffe, whose debut marathon record suggests she could thrive on the point-to-point course. The tightened qualifying standards — reduced by five minutes across almost all age groups — mean the 30,000-strong amateur field will be faster than ever, too.
The Boston Athletic Association has positioned this anniversary edition as a celebration of the race's heritage while embracing its future. With a field spanning nearly 130 countries and all 50 US states, the 130th running of the world's oldest annual marathon promises to deliver a spectacle worthy of its history. The race begins at 10:00 AM ET on Patriots' Day, April 20.