Boston Marathon 2026 Preview: Lokedi and Korir Lead Elite Fields on Patriot’s Day
Reigning champions Sharon Lokedi and John Korir headline a stacked field at the Boston Marathon on Patriot’s Day, Monday, April 20, as many of the world’s top distance runners return to one of the sport’s most iconic races.
Men’s Race
Eight of the top ten finishers from last year’s Boston Marathon return to the World Athletics Platinum Label event, setting up a highly competitive rematch on the historic streets of Massachusetts.
Kenya’s John Korir leads the field after a dominant run of form, having won three of his last four marathons. He claimed victory in Boston last year in 2:04:45, just six months after winning the Chicago Marathon in 2:02:44. Korir capped his 2025 season with another triumph in Valencia, improving his personal best to 2:02:24. He also follows in the footsteps of his brother Wesley Korir, the 2012 Boston champion.
Tanzania’s Alphonce Simbu returns after finishing second in Boston last year in 2:05:04. He went on to claim the world marathon title in Tokyo 2025 in 2:09:48, edging Amanal Petros in a dramatic photo finish. Simbu’s personal best stands at 2:04:38 from Valencia 2024.
Completing last year’s podium, Cybrian Kotut also lines up after placing third in 2:05:04. Kotut has been consistently strong, finishing second in Berlin 2024 in a PB of 2:03:22 and collecting wins in Paris (2:07:11), Florence (2:08:59), and Hamburg (2:04:47).
Benson Kipruto adds further depth to the Kenyan contingent. A four-time World Marathon Major winner, he triumphed in Boston 2021 (2:09:51), Chicago 2022 (2:04:22), Tokyo 2024 (2:02:16 PB), and New York 2025 (2:08:09). Remarkably consistent, Kipruto has missed the podium just once in ten marathons since 2021 and edged Alexander Mutiso by 0.03 seconds in New York last November.
Among other leading contenders, Abdi Nageeye of the Netherlands—Olympic silver medallist in Tokyo 2021 (2:09:58)—brings strong credentials, including wins in New York 2024 (2:07:39) and Rotterdam 2024 (2:04:45), and a PB of 2:04:20 from London 2025.
Milkesa Mengesha arrives as the Berlin 2024 champion (2:03:17 PB) and Shanghai 2025 winner (2:06:25), while Hailemaryam Kiros adds further Ethiopian strength after winning Sydney 2025 in 2:06:05 and posting a PB of 2:04:35 in Berlin.
Veteran Lemi Berhanu returns on the 10th anniversary of his Boston victory in 2016, while Mohamed Esa, Alex Masai, and debutant Nicholas Kipkorir round out a deep international field. Kipkorir brings strong track credentials, including PBs of 12:46.33 (5000m) and 26:50.94 (10000m), along with a 58:08 half marathon best.
Top American contenders include Clayton Young (7th in Boston 2025, 2:07:04), Zouhair Talbi (Houston 2026 winner, 2:05:45), CJ Albertson (PB 2:08:17), and Biya Simbassa (PB 2:06:53).
Women’s Race
The women’s field is equally deep, featuring 11 athletes who have broken the 2:20 barrier.
Sharon Lokedi returns to defend her title after a stunning course record performance of 2:17:22 last year. The Kenyan star won New York on her debut in 2022 (2:23:23) and has since consistently placed among the world’s best, including a runner-up finish in New York (2:20:07). She also improved her half marathon PB to 1:05:00 in Copenhagen 2025.
Irine Cheptai is another major contender after finishing fourth in Boston last year in 2:21:32. She holds a PB of 2:17:51 from Chicago 2024 and has also enjoyed success on the global stage.
Ethiopia’s Workenesh Edesa arrives in strong form, with victories in Sydney 2024 (2:21:41) and Osaka 2024 (2:18:51), and a lifetime best of 2:17:55 from Hamburg 2025.
Bedatu Hirpa adds further depth after wins in Dubai (2:18:27) and Paris (2:20:45) in 2025, along with a runner-up finish in Osaka 2026 (2:19:54).
Mary Ngugi-Cooper, with a PB of 2:19:26 from Chicago 2025, returns for another strong showing, having placed in the Boston top 10 five times, including second in 2021 (2:25:20) and third in 2022 (2:21:32).
Loice Chemnung also enters as a serious contender, following a fourth-place finish in Chicago (2:18:24 PB) and a standout 64:01 half marathon in Barcelona, ranking her among the fastest in history.
The American contingent is led by Emily Sisson, who set the national record of 2:18:39 in Chicago 2022, along with Susanna Sullivan and Fiona O’Keeffe, who finished fourth in New York last November—the best result by a U.S. woman there since 2021.
With elite depth across both fields and multiple champions returning, the 2026 Boston Marathon promises another thrilling chapter in one of the sport’s most prestigious races.
