John Korir successfully defended his Boston Marathon title, setting a new course record of two hours, one minute and 52 seconds. The 29-year-old Kenyan broke the previous record of two hours, three minutes and two seconds, set by compatriot Geoffrey Mutai in 2011. Korir surged ahead in the final miles, pulling away from the lead pack to finish strong on Boylston Street. His victory marks his third consecutive marathon win, following triumphs at the 2024 Chicago Marathon and the December 2023 Valencia Marathon. Korir, who overcame an early fall to win last year's race, described this year's effort as smooth, saying, "This year was a breeze for me because I had no problems at the start or at the finish." He added that the support from the crowd made the race feel like one at home. Korir's time ranks as the fifth fastest marathon in recorded history. In the women's race, Kenya's Sharon Lokedi retained her title with a winning time of two hours, 18 minutes and 51 seconds.

💡 NaijaBuzz Take

Korir's record-breaking run came not from a dramatic duel but from a solitary push in the closing stages, exposing the lack of sustained challenge from his rivals. His dominance highlights a growing gap between him and the rest of the elite field, especially on historic courses like Boston. With two major titles already this year, Korir is now setting benchmarks rather than chasing them. Lokedi's repeat win adds to Kenya's firm grip on both the men's and women's divisions at the highest level.

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