Sharon Lokedi, after winning the 2025 Boston Marathon/ HANDOUTTwo-time Boston Marathon champion Sharon Lokedi will be out to defend her Boston 10K road race crown as she spearheads Kenya's charge alongside former London Marathon champion Alexander Munyao at the June 21 showdown.
Lokedi, one of Kenya's premier female distance runners, returns to the Boston 10K as the reigning champion after capturing last year's title, her only recorded victory over the 10km distance.
The 32-year-old stormed to victory in 31:39 at last year's race, edging compatriot Gladys Kwamboka, who clocked the same time for second place, while American Emily Sisson completed the podium in 31:42. As she gears up for another tilt at the title, Lokedi has expressed confidence in her readiness to successfully defend her crown. “I’m ready to give my best to defend my title.”
Lokedi's relationship with the Boston 10K stretches back to 2019 when she made her debut and finished fifth in 32:05. That edition witnessed a Kenyan podium sweep, with Fancy Chemutai leading the charge in 30:36 ahead of Brillian Kipkoech (31:04) and Caroline Rotich (31:58).
Later that year, Lokedi recorded another fifth-place finish at the Beach to Beacon 10K, clocking 32:46. In 2021, she delivered back-to-back runner-up performances in Boston (31:57) and Charleston (31:53), before returning to the roads in 2024 to place fourth at the Great Manchester Run in 31:06.
Lokedi, whose name has become synonymous with success in Boston, highlighted the special bond she shares with the historic city. “Boston holds a special place in my heart, and I look forward to running through the city once again in June at the B.A.A. 10K,” Lokedi told race organisers.
Beyond her Boston 10K triumph last year, Lokedi boasts consecutive Boston Marathon victories, having shattered the course record to win the 2025 edition in 2:17:22 before successfully defending her title this year in 2:18:51. She was also runner-up at the 2024 Boston Marathon, crossing the finish line in 2:22:45 behind compatriot Hellen Obiri, who prevailed in 2:22:37 after a thrilling duel.
Lokedi's Boston résumé further includes a podium finish at the 2022 Boston 5K, where she clocked 15:16. She will be joined in the women's field by Kwamboka, Veronica Loleo, Stacy Ndiwa, Winfred Mbithe and Priscah Cherono as Kenya seeks another strong showing on the streets of Boston.
Meanwhile, Munyao will lead the Kenyan men's contingent in what will be only his third competitive outing over the 10km distance. The former London Marathon champion made his 10K debut in Prague in 2022, finishing sixth in 27:35. His second appearance over the distance came a year later, also in Prague, where he improved to second place after clocking 27:48 behind Ethiopia's Tadese Worku, who won in 27:35.
Munyao heads to Boston fresh from a strong start to his 2026 campaign, having finished third at the Tokyo Marathon on March 1 in 2:03:38. He followed Ethiopia's Tadese Takele (2:03:37) and compatriot Geofry Kipchumba (2:03:37) across the line in one of the closest finishes of the race.
In Boston, Munyao will have the company of Simon Mutula, Patrick Kiprop and Alex Masai.
