John Korir smashes the Boston Marathon course record
The Kenyan retained his title in 2:01:52, and Sharon Lokedi made it a Kenyan double.
Key points
- Kenya’s John Korir won the 130th Boston Marathon on 20 April 2026 in 2:01:52, breaking Geoffrey Mutai’s 2011 course record of 2:03:02.
- It was Korir’s second consecutive Boston title.
- Kenya’s Sharon Lokedi also retained her women’s title, in 2:18:51.
Kenya's John Korir won the 130th Boston Marathon on 20 April 2026 in 2:01:52, taking more than a minute off the course record. The previous record, 2:03:02, had been set by Geoffrey Mutai, also of Kenya, in 2011.
It was Korir's second Boston title in a row.
A Kenyan double
In the women's race, Sharon Lokedi also retained her title, winning in 2:18:51. She set the women's course record of 2:17:22 in 2025.
A fast day in Boston
Boston is known as one of the toughest courses among the major marathons, with its hills in the closing miles. Korir's time shows just how fast the sport has become. Six days later, his compatriot Sabastian Sawe ran the first sub-two-hour marathon in London.
Kenyan runners won both races in Boston, extending the country's long record of success at the event.
Sources
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