The Boston Athletic Association announced that Kenyan Hellen Obiri will aim for a third consecutive Boston Marathon win in April, while Ethiopian Sisay Lemma will also defend his championship title in the fast men’s division.
Since her marathon debut in 2022, the 35-year-old Kenyan has dominated the distance event. Obiri has also won the New York race in 2023 and took home bronze in the Paris Olympics last year.
Obiri, who will be defending her Boston Marathon title, said: “Defending a win is never easy, and to win the Boston Marathon twice in a row was hard, but I am happy to have done it… On race day I will again push for the win and hope to make it three in a row.”
Obiri will be joined at the starting line by former champions Edna Kiplagat, also from Kenya, who has won twice, and Des Linden of the United States.
In an Instagram post, Obiri shared: “Back to the @bostonmarathon in April aiming for title #3”
Lemma is now deemed to be the fastest man in the competition with a personal best record of 2:01:48. He will now compete against a strong Kenyan group of athletes, including Chicago champion John Korir and two-time winner Evans Chebet.
Lemma declared: “I was very happy after winning the Boston Marathon last year, and in 2025 I know it will be an even bigger challenge to win again… I was not completely ready at the Valencia Marathon last December, but I will be 100 per cent ready next April because the Boston Marathon is a special event.”
The Boston Marathon’s 129th race is scheduled to be on April 21, 2025.
Source: CNA