John Korir broke the Boston Marathon course record to win the men's race in 2:01:52, the fifth-fastest marathon of all time, according to reports. Sharon Lokedi won the women's race in 2:18:51, sources said. Zouhair Talbi ran the fastest time ever for an American at the Boston Marathon in the men's race, finishing fifth with a time of 2:03:45, per race data. Jess McClain ran the fastest time ever for an American at the Boston Marathon in the women's race, finishing fifth with a time of 2:20:49, according to officials. The previous records for American runners in Boston were set by Ryan Hall in 2011 and Shalane Flanagan in 2014, race historians noted.
The field for the 2026 Boston Marathon is the strongest in race history, analysts said. The entire men's podium and seven of the top 10 finishers from last year are back, according to race organizers. Eight women in the field have run a sub-2:20 marathon, per marathon records. There are 12 U.S. men with personal bests below 2:10, and four U.S. men have run 2:08 or faster, data shows.
Last year was crazy fast, so I don't know if it will be the same thing this year. But whichever one, I'm excited for. You never know. I feel like that is always determined by when you get to the start line.
American runners dominated the competition, with seven American men and 12 American women in the top 20, race results indicated. The entire U.S. marathon team from the 2024 Paris Olympics is competing in the women's field, officials confirmed. Eight U.S. women have beaten 2:25, and three U.S. women have personal bests below 2:22: Emily Sisson, Sara Hall, and Susanna Sullivan, according to marathon statistics.
Security concerns were addressed by authorities ahead of the race. FBI Special Agent in Charge in Boston Ted Docks said authorities are operating at a heightened threat environment because of the war in Iran. However, there are no specific or credible threats against the race, he added.
I think we're in an era in distance running, on the men and women's sides, but especially the women's side, where we're all making each other so much better every time we line up with one another. And I think it's just going to get stronger and stronger.
Temperatures in the 30s, with frost on the ground, greeted the field at the start in Hopkinton, according to weather reports. More than 30,000 runners lined up, race officials said. Fifty wheelchair athletes were first over the starting line, per the event schedule. A tailwind was expected to help the competitors, meteorologists noted. Race Director Dave McGillivray said it's the coldest start he could remember in his nearly four decades working at the race.
In the wheelchair races, Eden Rainbow-Cooper won the women's wheelchair race in 1:30:51, according to major_media. Marcel Hug won the men's wheelchair race in 1:16:06, according to major_media. The Boston Red Sox have worn a jersey with 'Boston' instead of 'Red Sox' on Patriots' Day every year since 2013, team records show. David Ortiz gave a speech in 2013 with a message of resilience for the city, sources recounted. A large group of Boston Marathon bombing survivors yelled out 'Play Ball!' before Monday's game, witnesses said. Jonny Gomes threw out a ceremonial first pitch on Monday wearing the 'Boston' jersey, according to reports.
We need to push each other, everyone needs to be in the pack.
The 130th Boston Marathon took place on Monday, organizers confirmed. Sharon Lokedi is the defending women's champion from last year, and John Korir is the defending men's champion from last year, per previous race results. According to major_media, John Korir defended his men's title at the 2026 Boston Marathon.
Everything was clicking, everything was good. And I was like, this is the day.
Obviously I wanted to come in and defend the first American title, and to do that on a day like today with amazing conditions and to run the time that I knew was in me, at some point in the wheelhouse of what I can do, is really awesome.
We all know what happened in Atlanta, I've been a half mile off course, so a few seconds is not going to throw me.