The Boston Marathon, held annually on the third Monday in April, is one of the six major marathons in the world, attracting both professional and recreational runners. The Marathon also includes para-athletic divisions and a wheelchair division, where athletes compete using racing wheelchairs.
The course begins at Hopkinton State Park and meanders its way into downtown Boston, covering a total distance of 26.2 miles to the iconic finish line on Boylston Street.
One of the deepest fields in history should make for an exciting race. Sisay Lemma of Ethiopia is the defending men’s champion, while Hellen Obiri of Kenya is the two-time defending women’s champion. Who are the top contenders for this year’s title? Let’s take a look.
Evans Chebet, Kenya
Looking to pull off an extremely rare three-peat, the 2022 and 2023 champion battled a lingering Achilles injury last year on his way to a third-place finish. Chebet, 36, is one of the most consistent marathoners of all time, never placing lower than fourth in any of the 16 marathons he’s completed.
Sisay Lemma, Ethiopia
Anyone who’s already won in Boston has to be considered among the favorites to win it again. Lemma, 34, forged a sizable early lead in last year’s race and was able to hold off all challengers at the finish. If he tries to implement the same strategy, don’t expect the rest of the field to let him go unchallenged this time.
John Korir, Kenya
In his third Boston Marathon after coming in fourth last year, Korir, 28, won the Chicago Marathon last fall. Fun fact: His older brother, Wesley Korir, was the 2012 Boston Marathon champion.
Conner Mantz, United States
A relative newcomer on the elite marathon scene, Mantz, 28, made his debut in Boston in 2023 by finishing 11th. He won the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials last year and finished eighth at the Summer Olympics in Paris. His longtime training partner, Clayton Young, will likely be in the mix as well.
Hellen Obiri, Kenya
The champion in 2023 and 2024 is looking to continue her domination in Boston. Before even becoming a marathoner, Obiri, 35, held the distinction of being the only woman in history to win individual world titles in cross country, indoor track and outdoor track. After defending her title in Boston last year, an injury limited her training for the Olympic Marathon in Paris. However, she still managed to win the bronze medal.
Sharon Lokedi, Kenya
The runner-up to Obiri last year in Boston, Lokedi, 31, has become a formidable challenger in any race she enters. The former 10,000 meter NCAA champion at Kansas, Lokedi won the New York City Marathon in 2022 and finished fourth at the Paris Olympics. She’s coming off a convincing victory last month in the NYC Half Marathon.
Edna Kiplagat, Kenya
A two-time champion in Boston, Kiplagat finished third last year at age 44. She’s back again and will most likely follow her usual strategy of staying back in the pack in the early stages of the race before kicking it into gear over the final few miles.
Des Linden, United States
The most experienced Boston Marathon runner in history, Linden, 41, will be competing for the 12th time this year. The 2018 champion knows the course better than anyone so if the leaders happen to falter, she’ll be poised to take advantage.
How to watch the 2025 Boston Marathon
WCVB Channel 5 will provide local coverage for the 2025 Boston Marathon starting at 4 a.m. ET. The marathon will be televised nationally on ESPN2, with coverage beginning at 9 a.m. and ending at 12:30 p.m. ET.
Date: Monday, April 21
Time: 9 a.m. ET
TV: ESPN2, WCVB
Stream: WCVB.com, WCVB app
Location: Boston, Massachusetts