2026 Boston Marathon – Live updates
All times local to Boston.
11:55 – John Korir: “It was in my mind to run the course record”
John Korir is speaking with ESPN just off the finish line: “It was in my mind to run the course record,” he confims. “I’ve fulfilled my wishes.”
He addresses having fallen near the start line last year – only to bounce back and win. There were no such troubles in 2026: “This year, I had no problems from the start to the finish,” he says, smiling. “I enjoyed this year more than last year.”
Asked about going sub-two hours on an Abbott Marathon course, he shakes his head: “I’m not thinking about [that].”
11:52 – Women at Mile 23: Lokedi now clearly out front
This feels like Lokedi’s race now. She is 12 seconds clear of Chemnung in second place. Her stride and body language look super strong as she makes her way toward the 24-mile marker.
She’s peeled off her arm sleeves, throwing them to the side. It actually feels like she’s gaining steam here…
11:43 – Women at Mile 21: Lokedi heads a trio of leaders
The women’s lead pack is thinning – slowly but surely. Lokedi is trying to match Korir’s back-to-back effort, the 2025 winner still front and centre. Loice Chemnung and Irine Cheptai are with her, too.
11:39 – RESULT: John Korir claims second Boston Marathon in a row
John Korir wins! He outstretches his arms as he crosses the line in 2:01:52, which is unofficially a course record by more than a minute. He is beaming as he is greeted by members of his family and extended team.
It’s a sprint to the finish for seond. Alphonce Felix Simbu just outruns Benson Kipruto, at 2:02:47 and 2:02:50, respectively.
Zouhair Talbi will finish as the top American man in fifth place, clocking 2:03:45.
11:34 – Men with one mile to go
John Korir is going to win his second Boston Marathon in a row. He is all alone with one mile to go at 25.2 miles, some 45 seconds out front.
11:28 – Women at Mile 19: Lead pack is nine
Annie Frisbie has been joined now by eight others in the lead pack, which still includes Lokedi.
They are at 1:41:14 through 30km (18.6 miles) in Newton.
11:25 – Men at Mile 23: Korir all alone
So just 5km to go for Korir and he is looking super strong at 1:47:30. He’s nearing the heart of Boston now and the crowds are packed for him.
It’s a 33-second edge at Mile 23 over Benson Kipruto and Alphonce Felix Simbu.
11:17 – Men at Mile 21: Korir widening his lead
So it’s now a 22-second cushion for Korir, who is looking to become the first repeat champion here since his Kenyan compatriot Evans Chebet did it in 2022-23.
1:38:32 through 21 miles, which is a 2:02:44 pace. That threatens the course record of 2:03:02, which belongs to another Kenyan in Geoffrey Mutai, in 2011.
11:14 – Lokedi still tucked into lead pack
It’s a big group of women’s leaders – with American Annie Frisbie out in front. They’re on pace for about a 2:22:19 finish.
Last year it was Sharon Lokedi who won in a record time, 2:17:22. So they’re just about two minutes off that record pace… but Lokedi is tucked into this pack and not appearing to force the issue – just yet.
And now Frisbie who is out in front alone… about 10 paces in front of the pack. She was eighth here a year ago.
11:10 – Men at Mile 20: Korir makes his move!
Oh wow. Korir, the reigning champ, not only reels in Mengesha but speeds past him just shy of the 20-mile mark. Mengesha can’t go with him and it’s Korir who will lead this race as it hits its final miles.
Three other men have chased down Mengesha, including the top American in Zouhair Talbi.
11:03 – Men at Mile 18: Mengesha has really gone out on his own
OK we have our first big move in the men’s race, as Ethiopia’s Milkesa Mengesha has broken away from the lead pack and has about a 10-second edge on the about eight who are chasing him.
Mengesha won the Berlin Marathon in 2024 and just celebrated his 26th birthday last Thursday (16 April).
10:56 – Women at Mile 12: Top runners greeted by huge roars in “Scream Tunnel”
About 18 women in this lead pack, including Sharon Lokedi, the 2025 champion. Big smiles are spreading across the faces of these leaders as they are showered with huge roars from sign-holding fans just off course.
10:42 – Men at halfway mark
It’s still crowded out front for the men, and that includes reigning champion John Korir. They’re at a respectable 1:01:43.
10:40 – Wheelchair: Eden Rainbow-Cooper claims second win
Great Britain’s Eden Rainbow-Cooper has a second win at this marathon, having become her country’s first to do so here in 2024. She races in 1:30:51 and is about two minutes ahead of Catherine Debrunner.
“It’s amazing to come back and do it again,” Rainbow-Cooper says. “For me, it… it means a lot to me. [Boston] feels like home; it feels like family. Every time I come here there is a little piece of me stays.”
10:22 – Wheelchair: Marcel Hug captures ninth Boston Marathon title in 1:16:05
Switzerland’s superstar Marcel Hug has claimed the men’s wheelchair crown just off record pace (1:15:33). The win marks his ninth victory in Boston and – can you believe it? – 47th Abbott Marathon Major.
“It was such a fantastic race,” Hug says on American broadcaster ESPN. “I felt good from the beginning. I was surprised that I was alone [so early] and then… it was a race against the clock. I pushed really hard.”
10:03 – Women: Trio of Americans out front
Sara Hall and Susanna Sullivan are out front for the women, with Kodi Klein along their side. They clock a 16:43 over the first 5kms.
09:51 – Men: Rory Linkletter, Hendrik Pfeiffer lead at 5k mark
It’s a big pack for the men out front at the 5km mark, with the Canadian Linkletter and a sunglasses-clad Pfeiffer, the German, cutting into a slight breeze out in front. American CJ Albertson is there, too. The top 10 are all within just a few seconds of each other.
09:47 – Women’s elite begins
Just a few minutes after the men have started it’s the women’s turn, with Des Linden, the 2018 Boston Marathon champion – and last American woman to win – firing off the starting gun.
09:37 – Men’s elite underway
The men’s race is starting first and Korir is standing front and centre at the start line. It’s a chilly (6 Celsius; 43F) yet sunny morning in the western Boston suburbs, Korir beginning the race clad in gloves.
Pre-race: Fiona O’Keeffe withdraws due to torn hamstring
The American women’s field is set to be one of the strongest in years, but 2024 Olympic Team Trials winner Fiona O’Keeffe announced Sunday evening (19 April) that she was out of the race due to a torn hamstring.
