Hellen Obiri seeks Boston Marathon ‘three-peat’, Sisay Lemma to defend men’s title
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Hellen Obiri of Kenya approaches the finish line as she finishes second in the New York City Marathon.
PHOTO: REUTERS
BOSTON – Kenyan Hellen Obiri will pursue a third straight Boston Marathon title in April, the Boston Athletic Association said on Jan 8, while Ethiopian Sisay Lemma will defend his title in a speedy men’s field.
The 35-year-old Obiri has been dominant in the distance event since making her marathon debut in 2022, winning New York in 2023 in addition to her pair of Boston titles, and picking up the bronze at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
“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,” she said in a statement. “On race day, I will again push for the win and hope to make it three in a row.”
She will be joined at the starting line by other past champions, including two-time winner Edna Kiplagat of Kenya and American Des Linden.
Lemma, the fastest in the men’s field with a 2hr 1min 48sec personal best, will line up with a formidable Kenyan cohort that includes two-time winner Evans Chebet and the 2024 Chicago champion John Korir.
“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, who missed the Paris Games due to injury.
“I was not completely ready at the Valencia Marathon last December, but I will be 100 per cent ready next April because the Boston Marathon is a special event.”
The 129th running of the Boston Marathon will take place on April 21.
In other news, UK Athletics and the former head of sport for a Paralympic event have been charged over the death of Abdullah Hayayei in 2017 when the Paralympic athlete was training in London, British prosecutors said on Jan 8.
Hayayei, from the United Arab Emirates, was preparing for the 2017 World Para-Athletics Championships at the Newham Leisure Centre when a metal throwing cage fell on him.
The 36-year-old athlete – who had made his debut in the javelin and shot put at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro – was pronounced dead at the scene.
Governing body UK Athletics has been charged with corporate manslaughter and an offence under the Health and Safety at Work Act, Britain’s Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said in a statement.
The CPS said the head of sport for the 2017 World Para-Athletics Championships, Keith Davies, aged 77, was also charged, with gross negligence manslaughter and an offence under the Health and Safety at Work Act.
Both UK Athletics and Davies are due to appear at London’s Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Jan 31. REUTERS
