Sharon Lokedi Defends Boston Marathon Title in 2:18:51, Leading All-Kenyan Women's Podium Sweep

Sharon Lokedi defended her Boston Marathon title on Patriots' Day, April 20, 2026, finishing the 130th edition in 2 hours, 18 minutes and 51 seconds — the fourth-fastest women's time ever recorded in Boston. The 31-year-old Kenyan led an all-Kenyan top three: Loice Chemnung was second in 2:19:35 and Mary Ngugi-Cooper third in 2:20:07.

Lokedi, who set the course record of 2:17:22 the previous year, ran a wire-to-wire performance, breaking open the race with a blazing 14:48 5K split between miles 17 and 20. According to the Boston Globe and ESPN, she had forgotten her watch in her hotel room and borrowed one minutes before the start, but she never looked at her splits during the race. "I just trusted my body," she said at the post-race press conference.

“The 31-year-old Kenyan led an all-Kenyan top three: Loice Chemnung was second in 2:19:35 and Mary Ngugi-Cooper third in 2:20:07.”

The men's race was won by Kenya's John Korir in a course record 2:04:45, marking back-to-back Boston titles for the 28-year-old. American Jess McClain, finishing in 2:23:25, became the third-fastest American woman in the history of the race. Strong tail winds helped, but the depth at the front of the women's field was the real story: five women under 2:21 and ten under 2:25.

The 2026 race drew roughly 30,000 official entrants and tens of thousands more on the course's signature stretches in Wellesley, Newton and Boylston Street. After two springs of fast times and emotional finishes — from elite repeats to wheelchair pioneers and adaptive teams — Boston has reaffirmed its place at the heart of distance running.