- Hellen Obiri seeks to become the first woman to win three Boston Marathon titles in a row since 1999.
- The Kenyan duo of Evans Chebet and John Korir are some of the favorites in the 2025 Boston Marathon men’s elite field that also has the defending champion Sisay Lemma.
- The winner of the 2025 Boston Marathon in each category will receive a prize money of $150,000 (approximately Ksh 19, 425,000 as per the current exchange rate).
The eagerly anticipated 2025 Boston Marathon is finally set to go down later today in Massachusetts, United States.
The battle lines have already been drawn as East African heavyweights prepare to go head to head with some of the best road race runners from different corners of the globe in the 129th edition of the Boston Marathon.
From Hellen Obiri to multiple champion Edna Kiplagat, the women’s elite field at the 2025 Boston Marathon is made up of talented runners.
The same case applies to the men’s category where the likes of reigning Chicago Marathon champion John Korir will be seeking to clinch the prestigious title.
Obiri chasing Boston Marathon history
Obiri, who won a bronze medal for Kenya in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, will be seeking to secure the title for the third time in a row.
Should the 35-year-old manage to triumph, she will become the first woman to win three Boston Marathon titles since 1999 when Ethiopia’s Fatuma Roba achieved that extraordinary feat.
However, Obiri will have to dig deep on Monday in order to shine because she will come up against a strong field that has the likes of Sharon Lokedi, Kiplagat, Irine Cheptai, Viola Cheptoo and the Ethiopian quartet of Amane Beriso, Yalemzerf Yehualaw, Buze Diriba and Rahma Tusa.
ALSO READ: Olympic medalist Hellen Obiri determined to win 3 consecutive Boston Marathon titles
Beriso, who has won a number of high profile marathon races in her career, has the fastest personal best in the field of 2:14.58.
Speaking ahead of the race, Obiri has acknowledged that it will not be easy for her to triumph this year.
“I know it will be tough because the field is very competitive and everyone wants to win, but my focus is on getting the third in a row,” stated the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) athlete.
Evans Chebet targets third Boston Marathon title
Meanwhile, multiple winner Evans Chebet, heads to the 2025 Boston Marathon with the hopes of reclaiming his title from Ethiopia’s Sisay Lemma.
Chebet, who trains in Kapsabet with stars such as Emmanuel Wanyonyi, has won the title twice in his career.
Chebet’s latest Boston Marathon triumph came in 2023 when he overcame a stellar field to secure the title in a time of 2:05.54.
The athlete, who hails from Elgeyo Marakwet County, will lock horns with the defending champion Sisay Lemma of Ethiopia.
Despite being one of the most experienced runners in the men’s elite field, Lemma also boasts of the fastest personal best of 2:01.48.
Besides Lemma and Chebet, some of the athletes to watch out for in the 2025 Boston Marathon include Korir, Cybrian Kotut, Daniel Mateiko, Alphonce Felix Simbu, Abel Kipchumba and Asefa Boki.
Some of the athletes in the Boston Marathon elite men’s field
- Sisay Lemma (Ethiopia)
- John Korir (Kenya)
- Evans Chebet (Kenya)
- Cybrian Kotut (Kenya)
- Haymanot Alew (Ethiopia)
- Daniel Mateiko (Kenya)
- Abel Kipchumba (Kenya)
- Asefa Boki (Ethiopia)
Some of the competitors in the Boston Marathon elite women’s field
- Hellen Obiri (Kenya)
- Amane Beriso (Ethiopia)
- Irine Cheptai (Kenya)
- Edna Kiplagat (Kenya)
- Buze Diriba (Ethiopia)
- Sharon Lokedi (Kenya)
- Cynthia Limo (Kenya)
- Stacy Ndiwa (Kenya)
- Viola Cheptoo (Kenya)
ALSO READ: The hefty prize money Hellen Obiri & Kenyan runners can win at 2025 Boston Marathon