Obiri chasing third straight Boston title

**Kenya's Hellen Obiri crosses the finish line to win the 128th Boston Marathon in Boston, Massachusetts, on April 15, 2024.** [AFP]

Defending Boston Marathon champions Hellen Obiri and Sisay Lemma are among the many star names set for the World Athletics Platinum Label road race on Monday.

Obiri – the only woman in history to have won world titles indoors, outdoors and at cross country – is aiming to become the first woman to achieve three consecutive Boston Marathon wins since Fatuma Roba achieved the feat in 1999.

“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,” said Obiri, the 2023 and 2024 winner.

“On race day I will again push for the win and hope to make it three in a row.”

But the three-time Olympic medallist won’t have it all her own way as she’ll be up against six women with sub-2:20 PBs, including world champion Amane Beriso. The 2023 runner-up, who has a PB of 2:14:58, is the fastest in the field and will be joined on the start line by her compatriot Yalemzerf Yehualaw, the 2022 London Marathon champion.

Obiri is one of several strong Kenyans in the field, alongside two-time Boston winner Edna Kiplagat, 2022 New York Marathon winner Sharon Lokedi, Hamburg Marathon champion Irene Cheptai, and 2012 Boston Marathon winner Sharon Cherop.

Former North American record-holder Keira D’Amato is the fastest of the US entrants. She’ll be joined by Emma Bates, Sara Vaughn, Sara Hall and 2018 Boston Marathon winner Desiree Linden.

Not only is Sisay Lemma the defending champion, he is also the fastest entrant in the men’s field. His PB of 2:01:48, set when winning in Valencia in 2023, makes him the fourth-fastest marathon runner in history.

“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,” said Lemma.

“I was unlucky, because of an injury, not to be able to participate at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris and I was not completely ready at the Valencia Marathon last December, but I will be 100% ready in April because the Boston Marathon is a special event.”

Four of the top seven men’s finishers from last year’s Boston Marathon return, including two-time winner Evans Chebet, who was third last year. Chicago Marathon champion John Korir, who finished fourth last year and is second fastest in the field with the PB of 2:02:44 he ran to win in Chicago, will also return.

Cybrian Kotut and Haymanot Alew were second and third at last year’s Berlin Marathon and both have lifetime bests inside 2:04.