Defending Champ John Korir Sets Boston Marathon Course Record In Repeat Win

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By Joseph Hosey, Patch Staff

Apr 20, 2026 6:39 pm EDT | Updated Apr 20, 2026 6:54 pm EDT

Defending Boston Marathon champion John Korir defended his title Monday, setting a course record with his win. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

BOSTON, MA — Defending Boston Marathon champion John Korir defended his title Monday, setting a course record with his win.

Korir, of Kenya, finished the race in 2:01:52, smashing the record set by fellow Kenyan Geoffrey Mutai in 2011.

The 2025 women's champion, Sharon Lokedi of Kenya, also successfully repeated. Lokedi finished in 2:18:51, the second fastest women's result in race history after the record 2:17:22 she ran in winning last year.

Marcel Hug, of Switzerland, breaks the tape to win the men's wheelchair division at the Boston Marathon, Monday, April 20, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

In the wheelchair division, Marcel Hug of Switzerland won for the ninth time with a 1:16:06 pace and Eden Rainbow-Cooper of Great Britain captured her second win in three years at 1:30:51.

"Taking advantage of almost-ideal conditions — 45 degrees F at the start, with a slight tailwind — the men’s open division went out fast from the gun, running near or ahead of course-record pace every mile,"according to a Boston Athletic Association media release.

"At halfway, 2016 Boston Marathon champion Lemi Berhanu led in an unprecedented 1:01:43, soon to be overtaken by a surging Milkesa Mengesha of Ethiopia, with Korir in immediate and quick pursuit," the release said.

At 20 miles in, Korir had shot out to a 7-second lead.

Alphonce Felix Simbu, of Tanzania, left, and Benson Kipruto, of Kenya, run side by side while approaching the finish line of the Boston Marathon, Monday, April 20, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

"We just tried to catch him, but he went, so we didn’t,” Alphonce Felix Simbu of Tanzania said in the release. Simbu finished second and Benson Kipruto of Kenya placed third.

"I knew I would defend my title, but I didn’t know I would run that fast,” Korir, 29, said in the release.

John Korir of Kenya, hoist the trophy after winning the Boston Marathon, Monday, April 20, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

“For many years, my mind was set on the course record, (of 2:03:02, set by Geoffrey Mutai in 2011), and I thank God that I have achieved it now,” Korir said.

Loice Chemnung of Kenya was second in the women's race and fellow Kenyan Mary Ngugi-Cooper finished third.

A field of 32,294 entered Monday's marathon, representing 137 countries and all 50 states.

Sharon Lokedi of Kenya, celebrates after winning the women's division of the Boston Marathon, Monday, April 20, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Runners stride down Boylston Street while approaching the finish line of the Boston Marathon, Monday, April 20, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Zouhair Talbi, Moroccan-born American runner, crosses the finish line in fifth place at the Boston Marathon, Monday, April 20, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Jetze Plat, of the Netherlands, right, passes police cyclists while approaching the finish line of the Boston Marathon, Monday, April 20, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Runners stride down Boylston Street while approaching the finish line of the Boston Marathon, Monday, April 20, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)