Sharon Lokedi successfully defended her Boston Marathon crown on Monday while further spearheading a resounding Kenyan podium sweep in the women’s race.
Lokedi powered down Boston Street to breast the tape in a winning time of 2:18:51. She held off a spirited challenge from compatriot Loice Chemnung, who clocked 2:19:35 in only her second career outing over the 42km distance.
Completing the all-Kenyan domination, Mary Ngugi-Cooper sealed third place in 2:20:07.
The 32-year-old Lokedi returned to familiar territory with authority, having claimed last year’s title in emphatic fashion, where she surged to a course record of 2:17:22 after outkicking defending champion Hellen Obiri, who settled for second in 2:17:41.
Ethiopia’s Yalemzerf Yehualaw had completed that podium in 2:18:06. Lokedi’s Boston love affair has been building steadily.
She had finished second in the 2024 edition, clocking 2:22:45 just behind Obiri’s winning mark of 2:22:37.
Her 2026 campaign had already signalled intent.
She opened her season with a strong statement at the New York Half Marathon on March 15, timing 1:07:10 to finish second once again behind Obiri, who lit up the course with a record-breaking 1:06:33.
Britain’s Megan Keith rounded off that podium in 1:07:13.
