Sharon Lokedi/ FILEBoston Marathon champions Sharon Lokedi and John Korir have laid down the gauntlet, expressing their burning desire to defend their crowns when they return to the iconic streets of Boston next year.
On April 21, Lokedi delivered a masterclass, shattering the course record after cutting the tape in 2:17:22 to secure the title, outkicking compatriot Hellen Obiri (2:17:41).
Ethiopia’s Yalemzerf Yehualaw completed the podium in 2:18:06.
This year’s triumph marked a significant upgrade for Lokedi from last year’s edition, where she settled for second in 2:22:45 behind Obiri (2:22:37).
Lokedi highlighted the Boston victory as one of the defining moments of her season.
“Boston in 2025 was beyond expectations. Breaking the course record, earning a victory, and racing against some of the best women in the world made 2025’s race a career highlight,” Lokedi said.
She has already kick-started her training as she hunts back-to-back Boston titles.
“We’re already training hard to run it back in 2026,” she added.
Following her Boston heroics, Lokedi continued to stamp her authority on the roads throughout the 2025 season.
On June 7, she finished fifth at the New York 10K in 31:13 before bouncing back with a strong victory at the Boston 10K on June 22, clocking 31:39.
On September 14, she placed second at the Copenhagen Half Marathon in 1:05:00 behind Ethiopia’s Likina Amebaw (1:04:44).
To cap off a stellar season, Lokedi lined up at the New York Marathon on November 2, clocking 2:20:07 for second place behind Obiri (2:19:51).
Meanwhile, Korir reigned supreme in the men’s, clocking 2:04:45 ahead of Tanzanian Alphonce Simbu (2:05:04) and compatriot CyBrian Kotut (2:05:04).
His victory wrote a unique chapter in Boston’s history as he joined his brother Wesley Korir (2012 champion) to become the first set of siblings to win the prestigious race.
The 29-year-old underlined how meaningful the moment was for his family.
“This year’s race was a very meaningful win for me and my family, and I look forward to coming back to Boston again,” Korir said.
His target for next year’s showdown is to defend his crown with authority.
“I aim to finish first and run fast again in April,” he added.
Following his Boston triumph, Korir added another feather to his cap by winning the Boilermaker 15K on July 13, stopping the clock in 42:44.
However, his quest to defend his Chicago Marathon title from 2024 suffered a blow on October 12 after he failed to finish, recording a DNF.
But Korir emphatically closed his year on December 7, bouncing back with a scintillating personal best of 2:02:24 at the Valencia Marathon.
