Marathon

Hellen Obiri successfully defended her Boston Marathon title, out-running Sharon Lokedi in the women's race on Monday, while Sisay Lemma delivered a dominant performance en route to victory in the men's event.

Lokedi was eight seconds behind Obiri, who posted a time of 2:22:37, when she crossed the finish line. Edna Kiplagat, a two-time winner of the Boston Marathon, was a distant third.

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Top Women's Finishers

1. Hellen Obiri, 2:22:37 
2. Sharon Lokedi, 2:22:45 
3. Edna Kiplagat, 2:23:21 
4. Buze Diriba, 2:24:04 
5. Senbere Teferi, 2:24:04

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There was little drama in the men's race as Lemma blew past the competition. His final time of 2:06:17 was 41 seconds better than the next closest runner.

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Men's Top Finishers

1. Sisay Lemma, 2:06:17 
2. Mohamed Esa, 2:06:58 
3. Evans Chebet, 2:07:22 
4. John Korir, 2:07:40 
5. Albert Korir, 2:07:47

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Whereas some distance runners prefer to ease themselves into a marathon and conserve their energy, Lemma decided to set the tone early on. His fastest speed (13:21) was clocked at the 10-kilometer split. Contrast that to the back half of the race, where only two of his final eight splits were measured at more than 12 mph.

Despite slowing down the longer he went on, the 33-year-old maintained a comfortable lead.

Absolutely nobody in sight of the leader at 24.2. 1:54 in.

He could almost walk it in and win.

Sisay Lemma #BostonMarathon https://t.co/JegTz0iQ5u

— Jonathan Levitt (@JWLevitt) April 15, 2024

"I decided that I wanted to start fast early," he said of his strategy. "I kept the pace and I won."

Evans Chebet was the reigning two-time champion coming and had the third-fastest time in Boston Marathon history during his 2023 triumph. While he made up some ground during the final five miles, Chebet was unable to cancel out the sizable advantage Lemma built for himself.

The women's race was much more tightly contested.

At 20 miles of #Boston128, there are still 15 women in the lead pack. That number is unprecedented.

— Boston Marathon Pro (@Boston26_2_Pro) April 15, 2024

With 25.2 miles in the books, Lokedi and Obiri were still running neck and neck. Obiri dug down deep in the last mile to get ahead of Lokedi, her speed (12:61 mph) a shade higher (12.27 mph) than that of her compatriot during the split.

For both runners, the Boston Marathon was a great showcase ahead of the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.

After winning Boston, Hellen Obiri made the case for Athletics Kenya to name her and runner-up Sharon Lokedi to Olympic team: "The Paris course is a tough course. It’s even tougher than Boston. If we have Sharon as my teammate in Paris, we will have a fantastic women’s race." pic.twitter.com/zKENRftBZx

— Jonathan Gault (@jgault13) April 15, 2024

A two-time silver medalist in the 5,000 meters, this could be the year Obiri gets her first taste of Olympic gold.

Kenya dominated the Los Angeles Marathon on Sunday morning.

The country's Dominic Ngeno won the men's race in just over two hours and 11 minutes, besting Cosmas Kiplimo by five seconds.

Kenya’s Dominic Ngeno wins the 2024 Los Angeles Marathon in 2:11:00! @letsrundotcom pic.twitter.com/BbQzK9PkHa

— Los Angeles Marathon (@lamarathon) March 17, 2024

And Kenya's Stacy Ndiwa won the women's race in two hours, 25 minutes and 28 seconds, besting Volha Mazuronak by 20 seconds. It was her second straight win at the Los Angeles Marathon.

Kenya’s Stacy Ndiwa wins her second consecutive women’s title at the 2024 Los Angeles Marathon presented by ASICS in 2:25:28.97! pic.twitter.com/Lv8qI61Ych

— Los Angeles Marathon (@lamarathon) March 17, 2024

Kenya’s Stacy Nwida wins the Los Angeles Marathon. Nwida secured back-to-back titles in the women’s race with a new personal best. #LAMarathon pic.twitter.com/KD3RMaDnE6

— John W. Davis (@johnwdavis) March 17, 2024

She also won the $10,000 bonus in the Marathon Chase, awarded to the top overall finisher. The elite women in competition were given a 17-minute head start over the elite men. Both Ngeno and Nwida claimed $6,000 as race winners.

Belay Tilahun (2:13:26), Sammy Kipchumba Rotich (2:16:31) and Tesfu Tewelde (2:20:17) rounded out the top five for the men, while Atsede Baysa Tesema (2:25:57), Kumeshi Sichala (2:27:06) and Makena Morely (2:30:24) rounded out the top five for the women.

Sunday's race featured 26,000 applicants—the second-largest field in race history—and weaved its way through a number of beloved Los Angeles neighborhoods and landmarks, from Dodger Stadium to downtown Los Angeles, Echo Park, Hollywood, West Hollywood and Beverly Hills, among other famous destinations.

That allowed runners the chance to take in City Hall, Little Tokyo, Echo Park Lake, the Pantages Theater, the Capitol Records Tower, the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the Chinese Theater, the Sunset Strip and Rodeo Drive, among other historical landmarks.

Marathon head of communications Don Cruz told Steven Herbert of Fox 11 that the race featured participants from all 50 states and 70 different countries.

A notable annual event will be combined with a holiday on Sunday morning in Los Angeles.

This year, the running of the Los Angeles Marathon will coincide with St. Patrick's Day. So expect to see a lot of participants donning green as they trek through the streets of L.A. for the 2024 edition of the event on Sunday.

It will be the 39th running of the Los Angeles Marathon, which began in 1986, two years after the city hosted the Summer Olympics. Every year, thousands of people take part, getting an opportunity to take in the city's views while also competing at a high level.

Here's everything else you need to know about the 2024 Los Angeles Marathon.

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2024 Los Angeles Marathon Information

When: Sunday, March 17

Start Time: 6:30 a.m. PT

Course Map: Available on LAMarathon.com

Road Closures: A list of road closures has been compiled on LAMarathon.com.

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The 26.2-mile course for the 2024 L.A. Marathon is the same as in recent years. Runners will begin the morning at the starting line at Dodger Stadium, with the finish line placed at Santa Monica Boulevard and Avenue of the Stars in Carson City.

According to the Los Angeles Times, there will be "roughly 25,000" runners participating in this year's marathon.

Some of the top runners will be familiar to those who follow the sport from a competitive sense.

Among the participants in the women's race will be the defending champion, 31-year-old Stacy Ndiwa of Kenya. Last year, she finished the race in 2 hours, 31 minutes and 2 seconds. Now, she'll look to become the first repeat women's winner since Russia's Tatyana Petrova in 2008 and 2009.

Ndiwa told John Davis of the Los Angeles Daily News that her goal is to finish this year's race in a time of 2 hours and 28 minutes.

"I came here to defend my title so I'm happy because L.A. invited me again," Ndiwa said, per Davis. "I'll do my best to defend my title."

The 2023 men's champion was Ethiopia's Jemal Yimer, who finished in 2 hours, 13 minutes and 15 seconds.

It has been a while since a course record has been set at the Los Angeles Marathon. The men's record belongs to Ethiopia's Markos Geneti (2:06:35 in 2011) and the women's mark was set by Russia's Lidiya Grigoryeva (2:25:10 in 2006).

But there will be plenty of strong runners in the 2024 field, so perhaps there will be race history made on Sunday morning.

One runner to keep an eye on will be Makena Morley, a 27-year-old who should be a top American competitor in the women's field. She's a hopeful for the 2028 Summer Olympics, which will be held in Los Angeles.

"Just experiencing racing in the L.A. will give me a little upper hand maybe to some people when it comes to 2028 here," Morley recently told Davis.

So expect some impressive times to be recorded in the 2024 edition of the Los Angeles Marathon, and then perhaps some will be back in the city in four years.

Kelvin Kiptum, who holds the world-record time for a men's marathon, died Sunday at 24 years old, per Evelyn Watta of Olympics.com.

Kiptum and his coach, Gervais Hakizimana, died after a car accident in Kenya.

Kiptum set the world record during the Chicago Marathon on Oct. 8 when he ran the course in two hours and 35 seconds. He cleared the previous record, which was held by two-time Olympic champion Eliud Kipchoge, by 34 seconds.

Issy Ronald of CNN reported at the time that it was just his third competitive marathon of his career.

"I knew I was coming for a course record, but a world record—I am so happy," Kiptum said after breaking the record. "A world record was not on my mind today, but I knew one day I would be a world record-holder."

Watta noted World Athletics just ratified his record last week.

Benard Kiptoo Koech and Mercy Jerop Kwambai paced the field in men's and women's races for the Philadelphia Marathon on Sunday.

Koech crossed the finish line in 2:14:25.98 to beat out Joseph Whelan by 15 seconds. Kwambai had a much more dominant showing, with runner-up Christina Welsh ending 2:37 behind. Here are the top performers from the grueling 26.2-mile event.

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Men's Top Finishers

1. Benard Kiptoo Koech (2:14:25.98) 
2. Joseph Whelan (2:14:40.89) 
3. Sammy Rotich (2:16:33.57) 
4. Will Loevner (2:16:51.82) 
5. Pierre-Lou Billerot (2:16:54.46)

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Women's Top Finishers

1. Mercy Jerop Kwambai (2:30:52.21) 
2. Christina Welsh (2:33:28.76) 
3. Damaris Areba (2:33:31.34) 
4. Elizabeth Chikotas (2:35:13.48) 
5. Kayla Lampe (2:37:00.04)

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Runners who competed in the 2022 Philadelphia Marathon had to compete with frigid temperatures that were so cold the clock at the finish line froze. Thankfully this weekend's forecast called for much more favorable conditions.

Koech maintained a strong pace from start to finish. He was averaging a five-minute mile time when he hit the halfway mark. While that number slipped to 5:08 in his final split, he had built up a big enough lead to where it didn't matter.

Kwambai was even more consistent, averaging 5:45 or 5:46 per mile across her last seven splits. Welsh and Damaris Areba, by contrast, lost some steam as they got deeper into the marathon. Areba held a slim lead over Kwambai halfway through but trailed by 11 seconds once they reached 30 kilometers.

Fast Women made note of what could be perhaps the most consequential time of the day.

https://twitter.com/fast_women/status/1726251097738920319

In order to earn a spot in the Olympic team trials for the United States, a women's runner has to finish in 2:37:00 or better at a sanctioned event. Kayla Lampe potentially missed the cutoff by just 0.04 seconds Sunday.

The Philadelphia Marathon began at the intersection of 22nd Street and Benjamin Franklin Parkway. Runners traveled across the city and past landmarks such as the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Independence Hall and City Hall.

Now in its 30th year, the Philadelphia Marathon will be run on Sunday, Nov. 19. Starting out as a small, local race of just 1,500 participants, it has grown to become one of the top 10 marathons in the U.S.

Ahead of the marathon on Sunday, Saturday of race weekend will also feature a half marathon, an 8K and a children's run.

The official charity of the 2023 marathon is the title partner, the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), and runners can help raise funds for the overall goal of $600,000.

Here's everything you need to know about this year's AACR Philadelphia Marathon.

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AACR Philadelphia Marathon

Date: Sunday, Nov. 19

Location: 22nd Street & Benjamin Franklin Parkway

Start time: 6:55 a.m. ET wheelchairs; 7:00 a.m. ET athletes

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You can follow along with loved ones' progress using the marathon's runner tracking system. Following the race, results will be posted at philadelphiamarathon.com.

The race route will take runners through historic Center City, Fairmount Park, University City, Manayunk and more, past such landmarks as the Philadelphia Museum of Art and Boathouse Row.

The course map can be viewed and downloaded at this link.

There are a certain number of dedicated spectator checkpoints through which all spectators must enter:

• #E-1 & #E-2 (22nd and Benjamin Franklin Parkway)
• #E-3 (Pennsylvania Avenue at Spring Garden Street)
• #E-4 (24th Street and Park Towne Place)
• #E-5 & #E-5-A (25th Street and Kelly Drive)
• #E-6 (Spring Garden Bridge ramp at Eakins Oval)

Organizers also put together a race day guide with other important information.

The Philadelphia Marathon Weekend is finally here!

👉 For all Race Weekend details, see our Race Guide: https://t.co/n2UaZhGaPt@AACRfoundation @dietzandwatson @rothmanortho @nemours pic.twitter.com/9SaQQSMxUC

— Philadelphia Marathon (@Philly_Marathon) November 16, 2023

The following street closures will be in effect on Sunday. For Saturday's road closures and other information about getting around, see the Philadelphia Marathon website.

2 a.m. Closures

• 2000-2400 Benjamin Franklin Parkway
• Spring Garden Street, from Pennsylvania Avenue to Benjamin Franklin Parkway
• 23rd Street, from Pennsylvania Avenue to Benjamin Franklin Parkway
• 22nd Street, from Winter Street to Park Towne Place (Local Access to Park Towne Place)
• 21st Street, from Pennsylvania Avenue to Winter Street

4 a.m. Closures

• I-676 off-ramp at 22nd Street (westbound)
• I-76 off-ramp at Spring Garden Street (eastbound)

6 a.m. Closures

• 17th Street, from Arch Street to Vine Street
• 18th Street, from Arch Street to Callowhill Street
• 19th Street, from Arch Street to Callowhill Street
• 20th Street, from Arch Street to Callowhill Street
• 21st Street, from Arch Street to Spring Garden Street
• 22nd Street, from Arch Street to Spring Garden Street
• Benjamin Franklin Parkway, from 16th Street to 20th Street
• Arch Street, between 3rd Street and 16th Street
• 4th Street, between Arch Street and Vine Streets
• Race Street, from 6th Street to Columbus Boulevard
• Columbus Boulevard (southbound lanes), from Vine Street to Washington Avenue
• Southbound off-ramp, from I-95 at Washington Avenue
• Washington Avenue, from Columbus Boulevard to Front Street
• Front Street, from Washington Avenue to South Street
• South Street, from Front Street to 7th Street
• 6th Street, from Bainbridge Street to Market Street
• Chestnut Street, from 6th Street to 16th Street
• 15th Street from Chestnut Street to Walnut Street
• Walnut Street from Broad Street to 34th Street
• Chestnut Street, from 33rd Street to 34th Street
• 34th Street, from Chestnut Street to Girard Avenue
• Lansdowne Drive, from Girard Avenue to South Concourse Drive
• South Concourse Drive, from Lansdowne to West Memorial Hall Drive
• East Memorial Hall Drive, from South Concourse to Avenue of the Republic
• Avenue of the Republic, from East Memorial Hall Drive to Catholic Fountain
• Belmont Avenue, Montgomery to Parkside Avenue
• States Drive to Lansdowne Drive
• Lansdowne Drive to Girard Avenue
• Girard Avenue Bridge, from Lansdowne Drive to 33rd Street
• 33rd Street, from Girard Avenue to Reservoir Drive
• Reservoir Drive, from 33rd Street to Edgley Drive
• Edgley Drive, from Reservoir Drive to Fountain Green Drive
• Fountain Green Drive, from Edgley Drive to Kelly Drive
• Kelly Drive
• The Falls Bridge
• Ridge Avenue, from Schoolhouse Lane to Manayunk Avenue
• Main Street, from Ridge Avenue to Conarroe Street

Tamirat Tola wrote his name into the New York City Marathon's record books Sunday.

The Ethiopian finished in a course-record 2:04:58 as he won the men's marathon. He crossed the finish line nearly two minutes ahead of runner-up Albert Korir.

Tamirat Tola of Ethiopia is the men's open-division winner, setting a course-record time of 2:04:58. #TCSNYCMarathon pic.twitter.com/VZRtRRrZxa

— TCS New York City Marathon (@nycmarathon) November 5, 2023

It was a much more dramatic affair in the women's marathon. Only 10 seconds separated winner Hellen Obiri from third-place finisher and reigning champion Sharon Lokedi.

Hellen Obiri of Kenya wins the women's open-division of the 2023 #TCSNYCMarathon at 2:27:23. pic.twitter.com/A9Jw5JSYE7

— TCS New York City Marathon (@nycmarathon) November 5, 2023

Here are the top performers from the men's and women's marathons:

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Elite Men's Results

1. Tamirat Tola (2:04:58) 
2. Albert Korir (2:06:57) 
3. Shura Kitata (2:07:11) 
4. Abdi Nageeye (2:10:21) 
5. Koen Naert (2:10:25)

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Elite Women's Results

1. Hellen Obiri (2:27:23) 
2. Letesenbet Gidey (2:27:29) 
3. Sharon Lokedi (2:27:33) 
4. Brigid Kosgei (2:27:45) 
5. Mary Ngugi (2:27:53)

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Tola paced himself to get things started. At the first interval split, he was averaging almost five minutes a mile. By the time he completed 15 kilometers, his mile time had fallen to 4:39. That's roughly where he hovered for the remainder of the marathon until slowing up over the last few miles.

Jemal Yimer did his best to keep up with his compatriot, but he ran out of gas about 20 miles into the 26.2-mile affair. All four of his file mile splits were north of six minutes as he wound up in ninth.

Tola's final time surpassed a mark that had stood since 2011, when Geoffrey Mutai clocked in at 2:05:06.

Seven-time NHL All-Star Zdeno Chára was among the participants for Sunday's event and posted a time of 3:19:19.

Another marathon in the books for Zdeno Chara! 🏃‍♂️

Congratulations on finishing the New York City Marathon, Big Z! pic.twitter.com/PdBf9Sc9en

— NHL (@NHL) November 5, 2023

For Obiri, Sunday's achievement completed a New York and Boston double after she came out on top in April. Ingrid Kristiansen in 1989 was the last woman to pull off the feat in the same year.

This is another major accolade in a decorated distance-running career as well. The 33-year-old is a two-time Olympic silver medalist in the 5,000 meters and has two world titles in that distance.

Obiri perfectly managed her stamina across the grueling race. Her last three splits were her fastest on the day; she was running at a 4:45 mile pace when she hit the finish line. That late surge allowed her to create a gap on Letesenbet Gidey and Lokedi.

The 2023 TCS New York City Marathon will take over the Big Apple Sunday as runners from around the world descend on it for a 26.2-mile race through the five boroughs.

The field is made up of everyday citizens looking to cross an item off their bucket lists and competitive runners testing themselves in one of the most recognizable events in the sport.

It also features celebrities from the world of sport and entertainment who will look to tackle the course for one reason or another.

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Celebrities In This Year's Race

• Steve Mesler, Olympic gold medalist bobsledder
• Sheinelle Jones, TODAY show correspondent
• Nev Schulman, MTV's Catfish: The TV Show host
• Laura Dreyfuss, actress and singer
• Luke MacFarlane, actor
• Zdeno Chara, NHL legend with the Boston Bruins
• Patina Miller, Grammy and Tony Award-winning singer and actress
• Amy Robach, TV personality
• TJ Holmes, TV personality

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Chara is no stranger to marathon running.

The 6-foot-9-inch NHL legend and Stanley Cup-winning captain of the Bruins competed in the Boston Marathon this past April, finishing in 3:38:23.

3:38:23 for 3️⃣3️⃣

Congrats, Zee! 👏 pic.twitter.com/BACTpcsxWK

— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) April 17, 2023

Chara is a seven-time NHL All-Star, a Norris Trophy winner, was part of the league's 2010's All-Decade Team, and in 2011, was presented the Mark Messier Leadership Award. He played for 24 season in the NHL and was one of the grittiest, hardest-hitting defenders in the league.

The toll that took on his body would suggest he would be content to go home, rest up, and enjoy the fruits of his labors. Instead, he has taken to big city streets as part of the most prestigious marathons in the country.

"What brought me to marathons was challenging myself but also the curiosity. I was always a fan of endurance sports, where people push their limits and try to prove that it's possible," he told The US Sun.

Mesler echoed those sentiments, telling Olympics.com of his participation in the race, "I think the thing I miss the most of being an Olympic athlete is the process: I miss the grind, getting up every day and having a goal and pursuing it and pushing myself. I re-discovered that with marathon training. I was getting up at 5 in the morning for my runs."

Kenya's Evan Chebet won the men's 2022 marathon at 2:08:41 while his fellow countrywoman Sharon Lokedi took the top spot in the women's race at 2:23:23. Switzerland's Marcel Hug won the men's wheelchair race at 1:25:26 and Susannah Scaroni outpaced her opponents in the women's race at 1:42:43.

The race kicks off Sunday morning at 8:00 a.m. on Staten Island and concludes at Central Park at 67th Street.

Kelvin Kiptum had a Chicago Marathon debut to remember Sunday.

The 23-year-old crossed the finish line in two hours and 35 seconds to set a new world marathon record. That smashes the previous mark (2:01:09) by Eliud Kipchoge in the 2022 Berlin Marathon.

WORLD RECORD: We have a new man in town. Kelvin Kiptum just broke Eliud Kipchoge's World Record with an unofficial time of 2:00:35! UNBELIEVABLE! pic.twitter.com/XfeMEzPveZ

— Chicago Marathon (@ChiMarathon) October 8, 2023

"I feel so happy. I wasn't prepared," Kiptum said of his achievement. "A world record was not in my mind today."

The Kenyan managed his race perfectly. His time at the halfway point was 1:00:48 with an average mile time of 4:38. By the time he completed 40 kilometers, he was averaging just 4:31 per mile.

Benson Kipruto, the 2022 winner of the Chicago Marathon, finished in a distant second place with a final time of 2:04:02.

Sifan Hassan was victorious on the women's side. The two-time Summer Olympics gold medalist was making her debut in a U.S. marathon, and like Kiptum, she made the most of the occasion. Her time (2:13:44) set a course record.

COURSE RECORD: In her U.S. marathon debut, Sifan Hassan takes the @BankofAmerica #ChicagoMarathon course record in an unofficial time of 2:13:38! Amazing performance Sifan! pic.twitter.com/0h7nxb50dy

— Chicago Marathon (@ChiMarathon) October 8, 2023

Hassan dethroned the 2022 champion, Ruth Chepngetich, who was nearly two minutes behind.

Here are the top finishers in the men's and women's marathons.

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Chicago Marathon Top Finishers

Elite Runners Men

1. Kelvin Kiptum (2:00:35) 
2. Benson Kipruto (2:04:02) 
3. Bashir Abdi (2:04:32) 
4. John Korir (2:05:09) 
5. Seifu Tura Abdiwak (2:05:29)

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Elite Runners Women

1. Sifan Hassan (2:13:44) 
2. Ruth Chepngetich (2:15:37) 
3. Megertu Alemu (2:17:09) 
4. Joyciline Jepkosgei (2:17:23) 
5. Tadu Teshome Nare (2:20:04)

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The 30-year-old seemed to be running out of gas. Her final two splits before getting to the finish line were her slowest of the race. She was traveling at 11.45 mph through 35 kilometers, and her pace had slowed slightly to 11.43 mph at the 40-kilometer mark.

Still, Hassan had gotten off to such a blistering start she could afford to lose a bit of ground late and still set a new bar for the Chicago Marathon.

"I'm very happy about my training," she said. "I don't know if six weeks was enough. I felt a little bit cold today and I still ran an amazing time. It's incredible."

It was a solid day for the United States, with Conner Mantz, Clayton Young, Galen Rupp and Sam Chelanga all finished in the top 10 of the men's marathon. Emily Sisson, Molly Seidel and Sara Vaughn all did the same in the women's marathon.

Officials for the Mexico City Marathon disqualified around 11,000 runners after they allegedly failed to complete the course, according to Spanish newspaper Marca.

"The Mexico City Sports Institute informs that it will proceed to identify those cases in which participants of the XL Mexico City Marathon Telcel 2023 have demonstrated an unsportsmanlike attitude during the event and will invalidate their registration times," organizers said in a statement.

Marca reported the organizers had received complaints of runners using illegal modes of transportation during the event. Per Jenny Bozon of Runner's World, some participants said they experienced issues with their trackers, which is why they weren't recognized as having run the full 26.2-mile course.

Héctor Garibay Flores was the winner in the men's marathon, crossing the finish line in 2:08:23 to set a course record. Celestine Chepchirchir prevailed on the women's side with a time of 2:27:18.