John Korir wins Boston Marathon as Sharon Lokedi sets new women’s record

Kenya’s Korir continues family legacy while Lokedi breaks course record in dramatic race finish.

Women's champion Sharon Lokedi and men's champion John Korir pose with their trophies at the finish line of the 129th Boston Marathon on April 21, 2025. Photo by Jessica Rinaldi/Getty Images

By Anna Fadiah and Hayu Andini

In a spectacular show of endurance and strategy, John Korir won the Boston Marathon 2025, securing Kenya’s continued dominance on the world’s most prestigious marathon circuit. On the women's side, Sharon Lokedi delivered a historic performance, toppling the long-standing course record in an electrifying finish.

The men’s event saw John Korir triumph in 2:04:45, the second-fastest time ever recorded in Boston Marathon’s storied 129-year history. What made his victory more remarkable was the fact that he overcame an early stumble at the starting line, recovered swiftly, and surged to victory in the final stages of the race. Korir’s win fulfilled a promise made to his older brother Wesley Korir, a Boston champion himself in 2012, cementing a powerful family legacy on the streets of Boston.

"I was aiming to win Boston and I had promised my brother that I was going to win," Korir said after crossing the finish line.

Deepest men’s field in Boston Marathon history

This year’s men’s field was one of the most competitive in the race’s history, featuring 21 runners with sub-2:09 personal bests. The elite pack blasted through the early kilometers, with American Olympian Conner Mantz setting the early pace, reaching the 5km split in 14:20. By the 10km mark, the pack had begun to stretch, and Sisay Lemma, the defending champion, briefly took the lead. However, the Ethiopian was unable to sustain the tempo and withdrew just before the 80-minute mark.

As the pack narrowed, Korir began asserting his dominance. At around the 34km point, he launched a powerful surge, pulling away from challengers including Mukhtar Edris, Daniel Mateiko, and two-time Boston winner Evans Chebet. His lead grew to nearly a minute as his rivals scrambled to close the gap.

Behind him, Tanzania’s Alphonce Felix Simbu, the 2017 world bronze medalist, battled Kenya’s Cybrian Kotut for second place. In a dramatic photo finish, Simbu edged Kotut, both clocking 2:05:04. Meanwhile, Mantz finished a close fourth in 2:05:08, just four seconds off the podium and only eight seconds shy of Ryan Hall’s American marathon record.

With five runners finishing under 2:06, nine under 2:08, and twelve under 2:09, the 2025 race was officially the deepest men’s competition in Boston Marathon history.

Sharon Lokedi claims historic women’s win

On the women’s side, Sharon Lokedi stunned defending champion Hellen Obiri, surging in the final stages to win in a breathtaking 2:17:22. Not only did Lokedi take the win, but she also shattered the previous course record of 2:19:59, set by Ethiopia’s Buzunesh Deba in 2014.

Lokedi’s performance was calculated and explosive. A lead group of 14 women stayed together through halfway at sub-2:20 pace, including Obiri, Ethiopian Yalemzerf Yehualaw, and American hopefuls. However, as the kilometers wore on, Lokedi began to pull away.

Obiri had hoped to make history by becoming the first woman since 1999 to win three straight Boston titles, a feat only achieved by four women. But Lokedi had other plans.

“I have finished behind Hellen so many times, but this time I told myself it wasn’t going to happen again. I fought and wanted it so bad. I loved every part of this race,” Lokedi said, beaming at the finish line.

The 31-year-old athlete, who previously won the 2022 New York Marathon on her debut and placed fourth in last year’s Paris Olympics, showed maturity and tactical brilliance as she surged ahead in the final kilometer. Her margin of victory — 19 seconds over Obiri — was decisive.

Yalemzerf Yehualaw finished third, rounding out a strong podium that showcased East Africa’s continued dominance in women’s long-distance running.

Historic day for Boston and American runners

This year’s Boston Marathon also marked a significant step forward for American distance running. Conner Mantz, finishing fourth overall, clocked one of the fastest times ever by an American in Boston. His performance placed him just shy of the podium and demonstrated the narrowing gap between U.S. athletes and the traditionally dominant East Africans.

While no Americans made the podium in either the men’s or women’s races, Mantz’s result and the overall depth of American runners on display suggest a resurgence in domestic marathon strength. With Mantz still in his twenties, his potential to challenge for a major marathon title remains bright.

Over 32,000 runners participated in the 2025 edition, cheered on by massive crowds and ideal spring running conditions. The event, held on Patriot’s Day as per tradition, once again lived up to its reputation as the "marathon of marathons," with elite competition, dramatic finishes, and records rewritten.

Korir and Lokedi light the way for Kenya

For Kenya, the 2025 Boston Marathon was another golden chapter in the country’s long-distance legacy. John Korir’s win echoed his brother’s achievement from 13 years ago and reaffirmed the Korir family’s prominence in global athletics.

Meanwhile, Sharon Lokedi’s historic run placed her among the elite names in women’s marathon history. With two major marathon titles under her belt and a course record to her name, she is now considered one of the top contenders for the upcoming World Championships and future Olympic races.

As the dust settles in Boston, fans and competitors alike are already looking ahead to what’s next for these standout athletes. But for now, John Korir and Sharon Lokedi reign supreme, having etched their names into the annals of Boston Marathon greatness.